The Benefits of Including Social Media Screening in Background Check Packages

Social media has become an integral part of our lives. It’s not just a platform for sharing photos and updates - it’s a reflection of who we are. Over 4.8 billion people use social media globally. It’s evident that our online presence can significantly impact personal and professional opportunities. Given this reality, it’s beneficial for consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) to incorporate social media background checks into their standard package offerings. This integration provides a more comprehensive view of an individual’s background, enhancing decision-making, and mitigating risks effectively.

The Growing Influence of Social Media

Social media’s role in our daily lives has grown exponentially over the past decade. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn are not just for personal connections but also for professional networking and branding.

Overview of Social Media's Role

Social media profiles often reveal a person’s character, values, and behavior. For example, a LinkedIn profile showcases professional achievements, endorsements, and connections. Platforms like Twitter or Facebook might reveal personal opinions, interests, and interactions. This multi-dimensional view can be incredibly insightful for employers, lenders, and landlords.

Statistics and Trends

According to recent statistics, about 62% of global internet users are on social media. In the US alone, social media users have an average of 7.1 social media accounts and average over two hours daily on social media. These numbers underscore the pervasive nature of social media and its influence on various aspects of life.

Benefits of Including Social Media Background Checks

Integrating social media checks into standard background check packages offers several benefits that can significantly improve the quality and effectiveness of consumer reporting.

Comprehensive Background Insights

Traditional background checks typically include criminal records, employment history, credit reports, and education verification. While these elements are crucial, they may not provide a complete picture. Social media screening can fill gaps by offering insights into a person’s lifestyle, behavior, and public interactions. A candidate’s professional demeanor on LinkedIn might be contradicted by inappropriate behavior on other social platforms.

Risk Mitigation

Social media background checks can help identify potential red flags that traditional background checks might miss. These red flags can include evidence of discriminatory behavior, substance abuse, violent tendencies, or other concerning behaviors. By identifying these issues early, companies can mitigate potential risks and foster a healthy culture.

Examples of Risk Mitigation

Consider a case where a company hired an employee without conducting a social media check. Later, it was discovered that the employee had made several inappropriate and offensive comments on social media, leading to public backlash and damage to the company’s reputation. A social media check could have prevented this situation by flagging the concerning behavior beforehand.

A perfect example is the UC Davis professor who was released due to violent commentary against Zionists on Twitter. These inclinations could have been flagged with social media screening.

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With an industry leading social media screening platform, like Ferretly, you can check for violent language and even use of violent emoji.

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Enhanced Decision-Making

Additional information from social media can support better decision-making. Employers can gain insights into a candidate’s cultural fit and potential workplace behavior. Lenders and insurance companies can assess the financial responsibility of applicants by observing their lifestyle and spending habits. Landlords can evaluate tenants’ suitability by checking for any signs of disruptive behavior.

The Downsides of Social Media Background Checks as a La Carte

Offering social media background checks as an optional add-on rather than a standard inclusion can have several drawbacks.

Cost and efficiency for customers

When social media checks are offered as an add-on, clients may face higher costs and inefficiencies. Separate reports can be more expensive and time-consuming to request and process. By including social media checks in the standard package, agencies can streamline the process, reduce costs, and provide a more comprehensive service.

Incomplete Evaluations

Clients may opt out of social media checks due to additional costs, leading to incomplete background evaluations. This can result in missed critical information that could have influenced their decision. For example, a company may miss signs of an employee’s discriminatory or violent behavior.

Lost revenue for CRAs

While social media background checks are gaining in popularity for hiring, screening influencers and many more use cases - they’re still discretionary. By including social media screening in your standard package offering you’re providing a benefit to customers that goes above and beyond that of other CRAs. You’re also ensuring customers get the most comprehensive screening on the market. Most importantly, you’re adding an inclusion that can boost revenue for your company.

Industry Trends and Consumer Expectations

Market Demand

There’s growing demand for comprehensive background checks that include social media screening. A survey by CareerBuilder in 2017 (mind you that is awhile ago) found that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process. This trend indicates that businesses recognize the value of social media insights and are increasingly seeking more thorough background checks.

Competitive Advantage

Offering integrated social media checks can give consumer reporting agencies a competitive edge. Agencies that provide comprehensive background checks are more likely to attract clients who value thoroughness and accuracy. This differentiation can lead to increased market share and client loyalty.

Integrating Social Media Checks

Consumer reporting agencies can seamlessly integrate social media checks into their standard packages by leveraging Ferretly’s advanced technology and API. We make it easy for Partners to white label reports and deliver social media background checks in a timely manner.

The Human + AI Advantage

Ferretly is designed to deliver the easiest to use standardized reports available. Our reports are produced by AI and vetted by humans. AI isn’t perfect and neither are humans but together, with proper training and procedures, reporting is thorough and accurate. 

We train our staff on the nuances of social media evaluations to ensure accurate and fair assessments. Our training adheres to legal and ethical guidelines to protect individuals’ privacy and avoid potential legal issues. Compliance with regulations such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations is crucial to maintaining trust and credibility.

Wrapping it up

Incorporating social media background checks into standard packages of consumer reporting agencies isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity in today’s digital age. Social media provides valuable insights that traditional checks might miss, helping to mitigate risks and enhance decision-making. By integrating these checks, companies can offer more comprehensive and cost-effective services, meet growing market demands, and gain a competitive advantage. 

If you would like to offer social media checks to your clients, schedule a demo with Ferretly today to learn more.

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