Would you put your MN username on a job application?

[noblegiraffe]

A school job application form requests that applicants give all social media usernames, including any pseudonyms and details of any websites they are involved with, for background safeguarding checks.

I understand that they might do a Google search and find publicly available stuff but this feels way too intrusive.

I can’t say that I’d apply for a job there.

schoolsweek.co.uk/teaching-hopefuls-asked-for-details-of-any-website-youre-named-on/

Well, it's reasonable that you don't have say OnlyFans or TikTok which is recognizably you. That is quite fair in employment terms, like giving references

Oh fuck no. Even enhanced vetting wouldn’t ask that. They want Twitter/Instagram/Facebook names and anything you’ve posted that might bring into disrepute and ask if you can delete historic stuff.
I’ve had over 100 usernames and if there was ever a server breakdown which linked all my weeks and posts to each other, I’d be well and truly fucked and family would never speak to me again.

@TravelWeDo Only over 100? I must be into the thousands by now.

No. My husband doesn’t know my username why would I tell work.

I’m a teacher. I wouldn’t give them that either. They’re welcome to search, but my accounts are private. Neither they nor pupils/parents will find anything.

I think the point is that if you don't tell them and then do something foolish on social media which identifies you, they can sack you pretty damn quick.

Not a fucking chance

I'd only do it if the searches were carried out in a way that separated it from school staff.

Eg asked that you register with a 3rd party search provider where you give all these details in an online form etc, it carries out searches then sends a certificate of something to say you are clear.

Not just handing out usernames to your potential future head teacher, school secretary, nosy member of the governing body etc to have a read of everything you've ever posted.

For being foolish? That’s sackable now? If you said something which implicated you in crime or morally dodgy things, maybe.

I absolutely would not. I think that's creepy and taking things too far. Do they want to read your journal and inspect your knicker draw too? Fgs

I've had so many user names on various forums it would need to be a long form.

Like fuck.

I've had about 300 usernames let alone all posts/threads, I doubt an employer would be interested in checking how I felt about weaning in 2004 etc...

This username would get me rejected outright anyway, let alone my FWR posts

Every job advert in my council area now has a statement that checks on candidate social media presence will be checked at application stage. We were told about it in a Safeguarding update at the start of term, but not that anonymised usernames would be asked for.

I'd only do it if the searches were carried out in a way that separated it from school staff.

Our less than <ahem> discreet School Secretary will be doing ours.

When I saw the title, I thought this would just be about usernames

and then I realised EmmaEmerald sounds like a porn star. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Not a chance. They can have my FB name but they won’t see anything apart from my profile picture as my privacy settings are watertight (I don’t even use my full name on FB, just first and middle names)

My MN username though? Absolutely not.

@cardibach - take foolish as indicting something that is totally at odds with your role. If a school, then sexual services, promoting them, promoting your sexy OnlyFans, posting racism or promoting use of drugs, violence etc. endorsing that, not actually do so, is a good basis to be removed from your post.

Facebook etc I post "assuming" that any employer etc might read it. Full of trivial/in-jokey stuff that I wouldn't exactly want to explain, but nothing dodgy.

Anonymous stuff - no chance. All sorts of medical history, ethical dilemmas, family history, dad jokes...

No, and they have no justification for asking. It's also illegal.

The article talks about companies that do social media searches for MATs

"Social Media Check, which provides reports based on automated software for about 40 multi-academy trusts, charges between £30 to £35 for each report, with a same-day turnaround.

The school can ask for checks on public or private profiles, but the applicant must first consent. The company said its consent rate was about 98 per cent for education requests.

The school then receives a report that highlights posts that might include hate speech, swearing, violent images and toxic language. The software can also scan pictures for words."

So they can also check private profiles (not sure how?).

Highlighting swearing as a potential issue....

I would, to teach them an important lesson on asking for stupid stuff from potential employees. I've been on MN since dinosaurs walked the earth, have changed by user name hundreds of times, and have wasted far too much of my life here. I'll be retired by the time they've finished sifting through my posting history. They'll be re-evaluating their requirements when they get to my Litterbox posts. How many pictures of my fluff balls will they have to view before they lose the will to live?

If I'd been headhunted for a sensitive and highly paid role in defence or national security and my social media had to be checked by a specialist in such matters, no problem. It's potentially relevant and I've nothing to hide. For the sort of role I'd be eligible to apply for in a school, there's no bloody way I'm giving them permission to snoop through my private business.

I absolutely wouldn't but SM is an increasing issue in teaching.

I still keep my security high and I left teaching nearly a decade ago. Not only do kids come looking for you but they also come looking AT you & there are so many teachers who've been struck off because mates have tagged them in videos where they're pissed and messing around. Also being struck off for being caught talking to friends/family about kids at school and using names.

It's easy to forget that teaching is one of those professions where you are held to high standards both in and out of work.

Try my username if you think yours is problematic.

Lol the only time I've been asked to give the details of my social media profiles was when I crossed into the North Korean border. I really would not ever give these details for a school application.

I have however been asked to declare if I'm a member of any political party for an NHS job. I wasn't at the time but I don't particularly agree with that either. If it's for a union rep job etc then fair enough but this was your run of the mill clinical role.