Social Media Screening 101
September 4, 2024
Social Media Screening is one of the newer options on the block when it comes to background screening, but it’s only going to grow from here.
The average person in the US has 7 social media accounts, and there are around 4.9 billion social media users worldwide. That combined with people spending almost 2.5 hours a day on social media apps on average, there’s a lot of information that can be garnered.
Why would companies care about Social Media Background Screening?
Companies care about this because employees are a reflection of the company and brand. One bad actor can spiral your brand into a frenzy of negative media coverage, damaging your reputation.
Additionally, every company has a ‘culture’ that employees buy into. Finding the right fit for your company culture will increase employee retention. So by pre-screening employees, you can reduce the risk of introducing negative elements in the workplace like bullying and racism.
What is Social Media Screening?
Social media screening is the process of analyzing a candidate’s online presence to learn more about them. This can include reviewing public posts for insight into character, preferences, behavior, education, qualifications, and employment history.
It can also help employers identify potential red flags, such as misalignment with company values or negative behaviors like bullying, racism, or extremist views.
Who Does Social Media Checks?
70% of employers report using social media to screen candidates. And 57% of those employers reported finding something that prevented them from hiring someone.
However, Best Practices Include:
- Avoid manual screening. Doing so can open you up to EEOC violations.
- Establish an internal process.
- Get applicant consent.
- Stay consistent and follow FCRA guidelines.
Using a social media screening platform can help with much of this.
Interested in getting started?
We can get reports back in 48 hours or less, and offer subscription and custom packages based on your annual volumes. Additionally, we have integrations with Tazworks, Accio, Fountan, Greenhouse, and more!
Contact us here to get started, or watch this free social media screening webinar we hosted with Jaime Frankos of Ferretly to learn more.
