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/

Tbh I'd be tempted to create a throwaway username, put a post on saying 'My local MP thinks I'd be fantastic in xxx role, as does my vicar, but I'm worried I'm too much of a perfectionist to go for it, particularly as I tend to throw my all into my work and have a fantastic eye for detail'.

Pass them that username, never post under it again.

No. If a CRB check can't find it, they don't need to know about it

To be fair we've had to have some interesting chats with ECTs and trainees over the last coupe of years who hadn't learned yet to completely lock their profiles down.

No a chance

All the more reason not to consent…

So I’m guessing I shouldn’t put my onlyfans down either then?

They could sack you for that anyway. Intrusive searches of normal social media won’t affect it.

Nope.
if it were for M15 or GCHQ and they asked? I'd tell them to work it out.
There is a reason some SM uses anonymous nicknames.

But your views and opinions on here can't be linked to yourself by anyone.
Obviously if you posting all kinds on Facebook, instagram and twitter and are recognisable that's an issue, but on here you are anonymous, or mostly anonymous.

Highlighting swearing as a potential issue...

forget i said anything

theres no way i could give anyone my MN name if they’d be looking for swearing 😳

You'll be fine @offyoufuckcuntychops, you can say cunt but you can't say cis

LOVE your name btw, I literally think exactly that when I read 99% of AIBU OPs. I might mentally tack "you knobhead" on the end for quite a few too.

I wonder if some nightmare parent spotted some teacher moaning about their unreasonable demands on here and went to the school about it, whether the school would then say to the teacher 'you didn't mention your MN posting habit at interview 👀'

@cardibach - yes but it's lot easier to say didn't provide information in accordance with policy than having to discuss whether it is your human right to say, take off your clothes online. Basically speeds it up.

Well what if you have one and just say you don't use it. What are they going to do? It's noones business. That's insane.

I was asked for them when I applied for an ESTA to enter the US recently. Optional.

No fricking way, Mr Biden!

They'd have the list already

Did they specify? So would something like MN count?

Holy fucking nope.

They can't police your thoughts or private discussions. Something posted on your FB or Twitter or elsewhere under your name where you could be easily "discovered" and reflect poorly on the school or organisation? Yes, I'm not surprised they'd look there, but nowhere that you're posting under an anonymous username. That's private and of no concern to them.

They definitely want anonymous usernames and to look at private accounts though.

Well, they can request them, but I'd never hand them over. It's simply not a reasonable request. I'd have no problem lying about having an account, if that made things easier. It's none of their business what someone posts anonymously. It can't (typically) be traced back to you and reflect poorly on them as employers, which is the only reason they should ask about social media at all. So, nope.

Or how about: reputation roulette.

Pick a MN username at random and see how it goes...

@noblegiraffe - you don't have to provide them. You are entitled to privacy and freedom of expression.

However, they also do not have to progress your application.

Interestingly, for schools it is not about whether something would necessarily reflect poorly on them as employers. The online search of potential employee profiles has been added to Keeping Children Safe in Education as a safeguarding check.

So looking for stuff that that would potentially out the person as having dodgy views or habitual drug-taking or whatever, regardless of whether it links them to their school or not.

They don't need to know this shit. What purpose does it serve for them to know I was abused as a child and my first exes were also abusive? Does it help for them to know what sanitary protection I have knowledge of? Does my user name tell them that I have the ability to research and absorb EFSA guidance or make a change to the home contacts tab? Does knowing I have two cats rather than a Border Collie make me more or less likely to be able to put paper in the photocopier, rather than walking away and leaving somebody else to deal with it?

I suppose it weeds out the particularly thick ones who not only have objectionable views but also lack the intelligence to make their user names unidentifiable or not mention them when asked, but other than that - fuck off.

Just make sure your SM accounts are not linked to any name, photo or email address that you've notified them of and you'll be fine.