Pre-employment social media screening (also known as social media background screening) is the process of researching the profile and activities of a job applicant on social networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and others. The purpose is to learn more about the applicant's background and determine if there is anything the company should know about before offering the job.

A social media background check is similar to the pre-employment social media screening described above, but can be done by anyone for any reason. Depending on the platform and the user's security settings, any information posted online remains there and can be viewed by the public for free.

When conducting a background check on social media, information may come up that may indicate the employee is not a good fit for the company. There are some so-called red flags that may not actually impede a person's ability to do a job, but may disappoint employers. Such things may include excessive profanity, photos of partying, or posts that display extreme political views.

Red flags that may surface during a social media background check, and that companies should take seriously, include:

• Illegal activity (drugs, underage drinking, etc.)
• Racist or sexist comments
• Violent or aggressive behaviour (including trolling or stalking)
• Sexually explicit content
• confidential information

Such things don’t turn up during social media background checks on responsible, well-informed and respectful people – the type of employees most employers prefer to hire.

Social media activity  is not assessed in a typical or traditional background check  . A routine background check on an individual can be conducted by a potential employer, landlord, or anyone else who has the individual's social security number, address, and consent. Official background checks cost between $20 and $100.

Depending on the type of background check, findings may include the following:

• Eligibility to work in the US
• Employment History
• Professional License
• Education
• driving record
• criminal record
• credit history
• medical history
• military service

The benefits of social media background checks for employers are that:

• Look for information that supports the claims made in the applicant’s resume.
• Save time spent calling and speaking to the applicant's personal and professional references.
• Find out the potential employee's business network and professional supports.
• Screen the potential employee for potential risks and red flags (as discussed above).
•  Reduce employee complaints,  disciplinary actions  , and  turnover .

Employers can conduct internal social media background checks as well as pre-employment checks. However, despite the potential benefits, this involves time-consuming work and (sometimes serious) risks.

When an employer monitors an employee or potential employee closely, there is the potential for violating personal liberty or discrimination laws, either inadvertently or intentionally.

Discrimination claims are also an obvious risk that can arise from conducting internal social media checks.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964  is very clear – employees and job applicants are protected “from employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.” When an employer chooses to learn more about an individual’s personal information, it opens the company up to potential lawsuits.

In addition, the perception of an employer intruding into one's private life is often not appreciated by employees. They may feel burdened, criticized, distrusted, resentful, or even censored. An employee may question whether any action was taken in favor or against them based on their likes, interests, friends, photos, or public views. This bodes poorly for mutual trust and loyalty.

Yes, there are social media screening tools for employers. If an employer decides to check the background of their employees, it would be wise to first consult a risk mitigation company or a professional social media background screening service. This step will help companies avoid potential risks and ensure a measure of protection for employers by giving them access to only applicable and appropriate information.