Yes Virginia it is illegal to coerce for your social media…

Yes that’s right I said it, right there in the title. I know many authors are hedging their bets that it is a grey matter of an interviewing company to insist on access to your social media accounts on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn. However, there is absolutely no grey area this sort of coercion is ILLEGAL. End of story quote unfrakkin qoute, move on there’s nothing to see here.

Of course you are probably wondering why I can confidently make such a bold ascertain and that is because it is a violation of your personal privacy. I spent a number of years on the other side of that desk asking the tough questions and there are clear guidelines one must follow. It is a violation of your rights as an individual and the prospective employer is opening themselves up to a huge law suit. While the prospective employer can balk all they want what they are doing is nothing short of illegal. Your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts contain deeply personal information that every interviewer knows is illegal to ask for.

Federal and state laws prohibit prospective employers from asking certain questions that are not related to the job they are hiring for.

It’s plain and simple employers should not be asking about your race, gender, religion, marital status, age, disabilities, ethnic background, country of origin, sexual preferences or age. Asking for access to your personal social media accounts grants them immediate access to this information a CLEAR violation of your rights.

 

Unfortunately, for the twitter users these safe guards do not apply and you are only able to fight them based on the violation of the twitter end user agreement. That is a rather flimsy prospect and I can offer no help here. With regards to Facebook and LinkedIn I recommend that you research the application laws governing interviewing in the state that you will be meeting and be prepared to back up your refusal with that information.

Related articles

• Some employers are asking job applicants for Facebook username, password (nj.com)
• Job applicants being asked for their Facebook password (mercurynews.com)
• Poll: Would you give your Facebook password to a prospective employer? (pennlive.com)
• Should employers be able to ask for social media passwords from job seekers? (foxnews.com)
• Job seeker balks at request to provide Facebook login (ctv.ca)