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/

They can have anything that I use my real name for @SnoozyLucy7. Any anonymous username platforms, nope. Not on those online platforms, won’t tell them that I am.

I unfriended a colleague on FB because she shared racist memes. No fuss, no drama, certainly didn’t tell anyone about it. I just don’t want that shit on my FB. If she applied for another job and they did a search they would be unlikely to see that content as I’m sure she’s savvy enough to limit the audience for them to Friends only. So I’m unconvinced this is anything more than lip service to safeguarding tbh.

I understand, but it’s just that WhatsApp is not social media, it’s a private messaging platform. So they wouldn’t be asking to see private messages, between you and others, surely. Now that definitely would be illegal.

I would just deny having any accounts . None of my SM accounts use my real name (don't have FB).
Certainly wouldn't give tge my username for an Internet forum 😅

You don't have to use your real name on Twitter either (why would you?)

I use my real name on Twitter as I have only ever used it to moan at BG as it is about the only way you can contact them and I also checked about a power cut in my area, I don't use it for just general posting so it wouldn't bother me giving my name for that, I don't use the other ones like Facebook and TikTok

This push for invading personal lives both past and present is what makes me never want to work in a public sector role again.

Everyone has an online presence of some degree that will make them cringe and they'd rather others were completely unaware of but years ago would have been nothing more than benign embarrassment. Now it can cost you your job and all the rest of the losses that come from this.

I understand not wanting reputational damage to your company but if you can prove the individual didn't work for you at the time of the post isn't that enough?

We've got too pitchforky these days

Noooooooooo!!

I understand not wanting reputational damage to your company but if you can prove the individual didn't work for you at the time of the post isn't that enough?

No, because this is a school attempting to find out if you post dodgy stuff online before hiring you in order to safeguard the children you may be teaching in the future, not to protect the reputation of the school.

Mumsnet isn't social media though.

It's a talk forum.

So not applicable.

Why would an anonymous account on twitter count and an anonymous account on MN not count if they are looking for dodgy things you might have posted?

Nope. Not doing it.

How is dodgy defined? Obviously illegal activities clearly but there is also a risk of falling into a moral grey area here that is subjective based on the readers interpretation.

Are we going to have no radical feminists in schools?
Are we going to have no Tories?
Are teachers going to no longer be permitted to having a social life?
Is alcohol now going to be banned?
Is swearing forbidden?

Absolutely no way.

They use a programme to run and highlight any content relating to violence/homphobia/racism etc.
Which is fallible as it can highlight you writing about news.

Why would you offer them the handles of any anonymous accounts? There is no benefit to you, and they're anonymous so they're obviously not going to find them. I can't believe people are willing to give this information to a prospective employer.

I'm sure it would be difficult for you personally, OP, as that policy would reveal all your posts about education, which could make you appear to a very conservative MAT to be a loose cannon.

Which isn't safeguarding, it's ensuring they don't introduce dissent/organisation - and why identifiable teaching SM largely consists of gushing 'Oh, I'm so happy to be working with such wonderful students with my wonderful Headteacher and we're going to be so happy, I love the smiles, they're the only reward I need' and 'this new absolutely shite idea is fantastic, every day is a joy when I walk in these doors and I'm definitely not going to mention that this lovely refurbished at a cost of £25,000 area is entirely out of bounds to students and all but SLT whilst the kid who uses a wheelchair has to spend 80% of their lessons in the isolation room with a leak in the roof and no windows because we won't get the lift fixed for the benefit of just one child and the couple of staff members with disabilities that we haven't quite managed to force out yet'.

No I wouldn't want my employer to know what I said on here. Apart from anything else, I don't like dogs, and more seriously I don't think male bodied people belong in female-only spaces, which would make me a persona non grata on both counts.

Well obviously not because it doesn’t ask for it

Yes it does.

No, wasn't even asked that when I started work for the MOJ

Where? No mention of Mumsnet here or when I filled out my ESTA a few months ago.

@TimeToFlyNow - sorry replied to wrong message 🙈

Where? It doesn’t here or when I applied a few months ago

No. Definitely not

Fuck that.