What is Social Media Background Screening? A Comprehensive Guide

The fact is that Most employers (91%) are currently assessing candidates' social media profiles as part of their screening process.

Incorporating Social Media Background Checks into your hiring strategy allows businesses to gain deeper insights into potential hires. As the digital world continues to intertwine with professional environments, conducting these checks  such as Twitter background checks, Instagram background checks, Facebook background checks, and TikTok background checks, has become a critical step in hiring practices.

To support these efforts, Ferretly offers tools that streamline and enhance the screening process.

Companies interested in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of candidates can explore opportunities through the Social Media Analyst position or request a demo to learn how Ferretly’s services can benefit their hiring practices.

What Is Social Media Screening?

Social media screening involves collecting publicly accessible information from various platforms, providing valuable insights into a candidate's character and behavior. This process, known as pre-employment social media screening, helps employers evaluate potential red flags, ensuring they make informed hiring decisions.

Importance of Pre-employment Social Media Screening

Conducting Pre-Hire and Post-Hire Social Media Screening offers a dual advantage: it allows companies to assess candidates before hiring and monitor them post-hire to ensure continued compliance with company standards.

The importance of social media screening lies in its ability to offer a more holistic view of potential hires, going beyond traditional methods like interviews or resumes.

Benefits of Social Media Screening For Employment

Employing social media screening as part of your hiring strategy offers numerous advantages:

1. Candidate Evaluation and Professional Verification

This method allows employers to verify a candidate’s qualifications, ensuring that their professional image aligns with the role they are applying for.

2. Identification of Red Flags and Risk Mitigation

Spotting potential concerns early through social media can prevent significant issues down the road, such as employee turnover and disciplinary action. By identifying these red flags, employers can take proactive steps to mitigate risks and make more informed hiring decisions.

3. Cost-Effective and Enhanced Hiring Quality

By identifying the right fit early on, companies can reduce hiring costs and improve overall employee retention.

4. Cultural Fit Assessment with Legal Compliance

Reviewing public profiles allows businesses to ensure candidates align with company values while adhering to legal guidelines.

Social media screening also helps reduce hiring bias and supports decisions that are fair and objective, which is vital for modern businesses.

As social media background screening matters for modern business, it has become a tool that enables more thoughtful and thorough hiring decisions.

Side Effects of Social Media Screening

While social media background checks are important, they can have certain challenges:

1. Lack of Reliability and Incomplete Information

Not all the information may be accurate or complete, potentially leading to biased decisions.

2. Unconscious Bias and Ethical Concerns

Screening can inadvertently introduce biases, as recruiters may make assumptions based on personal opinions or lifestyles.

3. Time-Consuming with Unequal Candidate Treatment

Without a structured approach, screening can take too much time, and candidates might be evaluated unequally.

How Do Employers Make Social Media Background Screening?

Employers use social media background checks to learn about candidates beyond their resumes, assessing their public interactions and professional history. Here's how employers typically conduct these checks:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Social Media Background Search

This includes searching for the candidate's profiles across multiple platforms.

2. Make Sure You Have a Solid Match

Confirm that the profile you are reviewing belongs to the right individual to avoid mistakes.

3. Review Each Piece of Content Posted by Candidate

Carefully evaluate any content that may raise concerns about the candidate's professionalism or character.

4. Conduct a Report with Findings of this Social Media Screening

Summarize findings in a structured report to help with decision-making.

To streamline this process, companies can request a demo or learn more about Ferretly’s social media screening services.

How Long Does It Take for a Social Media Background Check?

The duration of social media screening depends on the depth of the review and the number of platforms involved. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, affecting the overall background check time frame.

What Are Social Media Screening Red Flags You Need to Consider?

During the screening process, there are several red flags that employers should keep an eye out for:

‍

What Are Social Media Screening Red Flags You Need to Consider?

During the screening process, employers should watch for these red flags:

• Inappropriate Content: Posts or pictures that include offensive language, or illegal activities can show unprofessional behavior.
• Negative Comments About Previous Employers: If a candidate frequently complains or speaks badly about past jobs, it might indicate that they are unprofessional and could bring negativity into the workplace.
• Unprofessional and Toxic Behavior: Aggressive arguments, online bullying, or getting involved in online drama can show that the candidate might not help create a positive work environment.
• Controversial Opinions: Sharing extremes on sensitive topics like politics, religion, or social issues may not fit with the company’s culture and values.
• Frequent Job Changes: If a candidate's social media shows many job changes in a short time, it might raise concerns about their stability or commitment to a job.
• Engagement with Controversial Figures: Following or interacting with people known for controversial or unethical behavior can reflect poorly on the candidate's judgment.
• Poor Writing Skills: Many spelling or grammar mistakes in posts may show a lack of attention to detail or professionalism, especially in jobs that require good communication skills

What Shows Up on a Social Media Background Check?

A thorough social media background check will reveal information such as publicly shared posts, comments, affiliations, and interactions that are publicly accessible.

How to Conduct Effective Social Media Screening in Recruitment?

To ensure your social media screening process is effective, consider the following steps:

• Set Clear Goals and Create a Standard Checklist
• Share Content About Company Culture and Highlight Your Employer Brand
• Encourage Employee Sharing and Connect in Relevant Groups
• Use Targeted Ads and Monitor Social Media Data
• Know the Laws and Ethics and Get Legal Advice
• Keep Screening Time Short and Record Your Findings
• Keep Learning, Consider Outsourcing, and Combine Social Media Screening with Tests

How Ferretly Helps You in Your Social Media Screening Process

Ferretly is a leader in AI-powered social media background checks offering tools to help businesses screen candidates more effectively.

With its AI technology, Ferretly gives detailed reports on candidates' social media activities, helping employers make better hiring choices. Ferretly provides solutions that improve traditional screening methods.

Take advantage of Ferretly’s AI-powered social media background checks. Request a demo today!

Other Background Checks That Can Be Conducted

Social media screening is one part of a broader background check strategy. Employers can also consider the following checks:

• Identity And Employment Verification
• Criminal Background Checks
• Credit Background Checks
• MVR Reports
• Professional License & Education Background Checks
• Fingerprint Background Checks
• E-Verify Checks
• State Background Checks

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Can Background Checks See Private Social Media?

A social media check will show any private accounts, but it won't show the content inside if the account is set to private.

2) Is Social Media Screening Legal?

Yes, social media screening is legal, provided that it complies with relevant laws, such as obtaining permission when required.

3) Permission Required for a Social Media Background Check?

In most cases, permission is required from the candidate before conducting a social media background check.

4) Do Jobs Check Your Social Media?

Yes, most employers conduct social media checks to identify potential red flags and ensure that a candidate’s values align with the company.

5) How Do Employers Find Candidate Social Media?

Employers can easily find a candidate's social media accounts by searching using the candidate’s name, email address, or phone number.

6) How Do You Use Social Media in Employment?

Social media helps employers when they hire new workers. It helps them check candidates and find new people. Here’s how they use social media:

A) Social Media for Checking Candidates

• Look at Professionalism: Check candidates' posts to see how they talk online.
• See If Values Match: Look for posts that show if candidates have the same values as the company.
• Find Problems: Notice any bad behavior or wrong posts.

B) Social Media for Finding Workers

• Share Job Openings: Post job ads on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.
• Talk to Candidates: Answer questions from people who want to apply.‍
• Show Company Life: Share pictures and videos of what it is like to work at the company.