Social Media Posts Can Affect Your Career

PC Magazine reported on June 20, 2011, that social media posts can impact your job prospects. Many people already know the warning: what you post online can follow you for years. Now, a company called Social Intelligence Corp. has confirmed that risk.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently approved the company’s practices. The agency concluded that Social Intelligence follows the rules of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. As a result, employers can legally use social media data in background checks.

How Social Intelligence Collects Information

Social Intelligence reviews public posts from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and even Craigslist. If the company finds content it considers negative, it saves that information in a personal file.

Deleting the original post does not always solve the problem. Once Social Intelligence records the content, it may stay on file for up to seven years.

How Long Records Stay on File

Geoffrey Andrews, Chief Operating Officer of Social Intelligence, explained the policy to Forbes. He said the company stores records for seven years unless someone disputes them. If a user disputes a record and it changes, the company removes the old version and saves the updated one.

This policy means past online behavior can affect future job opportunities for a long time.

What Job Applicants Should Know

Before running a background check, Social Intelligence requires applicants to sign a consent form. The company must also notify applicants if online content affects a hiring decision.

Forbes reviewed several sample reports from the company. In one case, a job applicant faced issues after joining a Facebook group with offensive language. In another case, a photo showing weapons raised concerns.

Even if the applicant deletes the content later, the record may still exist.

Think Before You Post

Social media may feel temporary, but its impact can last for years. Employers increasingly review online behavior when making hiring decisions. Because of this, it’s important to post carefully and review your digital footprint often.

What you share today could affect your career tomorrow.