Is it standard practice for potential employers to ask for your social media usernames to do background checks?

[Thesage]

Just that really. I've been called for an interview and they've asked me for my usernames to do a social media and Google check. Is this allowed? And are there any legitimate grounds for me to refuse? They also asked for my dob on their application, which is not usual these days, so was wondering about the legitimacy about asking for SM usernames. I am more than happy for them to search me on Google, social media with my name , but I feel that asking for usernames is going a bit too far? It's more of a matter of principle than anything else. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

There are now computer programmes that can actually search out all your online activities, even with an ‘anonymous’ username. Presumably these cost so they are just wanting to do the searches for free.

TBh I think it’s quite a good idea, it may make people think twice before being vile, racist, threatening or whatever on line. I saw someone on TikTok saying they had had their job offer revoked after such a search. I don’t think it’s standard practice yet. What sort of company is it?

I’ve seen D.O.B on applications for years though.

Yes, I just give them linkedin 😄

I think it's likely to start becoming much more common.

When recruiting I've definitely googled candidates before and scrolled through their socials a bit, but never asked for specific usernames.

I'm sure you could refuse, but I don't think it'd help your job prospects with them to do so. I'd struggle because I don't have much social media presence! They'd have to go through my MN posts and my old Instagram which is just dog pictures, not very interesting for them!

I have never been directly asked, as far as I know. But I do include my professional twitter on my CV (or they could find it anyway easily if they really wanted). I would personally not give out my personal social media information, even though there is nothing particularly interesting or controversial on there (and all set to private anyway).

I should add though that we were specifically instructed NOT to search out any information on candidates beyond what was provided by HR, including social media, when I was on a recruitment panel, due to the potential for it introducing bias. I've only ever done it out of curiosity after the panel and we made our recommendations.

Thank you for replying. @RahRahOhLaLa it's an educational setting. I haven't seen dob being asked for , for a long while now, apart from maybe the Equal Opportinies monitoring form which I believe is not meant to be seen by those who are shortlisting, to prevent any bias/ prejudice. While I sort of agree that doing SM checks should stop people posting vile things on SM, I believe that should be the job of SM platforms (difficult for them I know, but they need to find a way if they want to run a SM platform) . I find employers asking for these details very intrusive but by all means pay all you want and do all the searches you can on me, that's fine but don't put the onus on me to give you my private details. It feels a bit off.

I'd say quite the norm these days.

@SeulementUneFois do you only have LinkedIn? or do you only give them your LinkedIn details? Surely if they do a check on say FB and you are on it but you havent give them your fb details wouldn't that come across as you not being very honest?🤔

Surely if all of your socials are set to private it doesn't matter as they can only view them if they're a fiend/ connection?

Am I missing something here ?

Just shut everything down with the tightest privacy settings if you haven’t already. Facebook has a setting where you can do it retrospectively and all people see then is a profile photo. They can’t ask to become your friend of follower on instagram, so you aren’t sharing anything then.

It’s fair enough if it puts you off working for them though. I would pull out and stick to other interviews, the fact they also asked for date of birth would make me think that their HR practices aren’t up to date, as well as them not having much respect for the boundaries of staff. It’s not a good sign at a time when they should be trying to give you a good impression so that you want to work for them!

It’s not legal to ask for your dob. I can understand the social media thing for a school but I’d only share any accounts that I held under my own name, that parents or students could find.

American firms definitely do this. A friend of mine had her job offer withdrawn because she made a comment about weed on FB years ago. So stoned she wet herself or something like that. I think everyone needs to be careful what they post on their pages and tidy up any youthful commentary.

Was the application an online form?

It's rare these days but sometimes day and month of birth are used as unique records in the form. Basically if there are 2 Joan Smiths who apply they can check which is which. Email address will often be used too.

Having the whole thing before an E&i form is weird.

As for the SM. This shouldn't be ask until referencing and I can see why in an education setting this would be useful. Just put everything to private.

This is why I have fake profiles

It’s lawful for them to ask, same as it’s lawful for them to ask for your DOB.

What isn’t lawful would be them making decisions based on any information pertaining to protected characteristics that they find. Deciding you’re too old/young based on DOB, or refusing an interview because your profile picture is with a same sex partner for example.

it’s bad practice IMO and like a PP says, opens the door to unconscious bias and discrimination claims.

Just set all your social media to friends only, they won't see anything. They want to make sure the students can't google your holiday photos!

Most teachers use their middle name as their last name on Facebook etc.

Date of birth is normal but it's for checking purposes not deciding on hiring

This. And use a burner email.

My SM settings are already on the tightest privacy settings possible and ways have been, as I don't really want people knowing my business. I've had it for ages but only recently started using it to join some very helpful groups that help with my DCs stuff

I've been asked for a few previous roles. They mean twitter etc under your own name.

Don't be daft and give your reddit username etc.

Any interview should be conducted on merit according to the job application criteria expressed in the advert and the people spec and job spec drawn up by the interview panel. I think it is reasonable to check social media once a provisional offer has been made if for example the job is in education or another public service.

I had a thread about this a while ago because it was being reported in Schools Week. They were asking for names on anonymous accounts too!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4719365-would-you-put-your-mn-username-on-a-job-application

Is it to ensure people have the 'right' opinions?

If I was asked I would give any social media usernames which have my real name and picture, as they would be able to find that anyway, and I would be an idiot to post anything I wasn't happy with anyone seeing. So that would be Twitter and LinkedIn. My Facebook, although also with my real name and picture, is completely closed so they wouldn't get anything from me telling them my user name anyway. I would not give them any social media accounts that don't have my real name on, like PInterest. They are private.