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Big Brother butt out

Bi-weekly Castlegar News columnist says a person's facebook history is no business of would be employers

You know the old saying, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’ But what about stuff that happens on Facebook?

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that most of us with Facebook accounts have posted things which we later regretted. Luckily there is the delete key, that is if you are lucky enough to delete your embarrassment before anyone else sees it.

Many of us fall into the misplaced belief that Facebook is a fairly safe place completely separate from the outside world. We couldn’t be more wrong.

If your privacy controls aren’t perfectly set, a friend of a friend of a friend, someone you don’t even know, could see a photo of you that you would rather not show for public consumption.

Even if one does have his or her privacy controls on lock down, there is a new worry to contend with.

It seems that some employers, in a misguided vetting process, are asking potential employees for their social media user name and password or to log into his or her account so the prospective employer can assess their worth as a future employee.

Pretty scary huh?

Seriously, how many times have you vented about an employer, fellow employee or customer on Facebook? While we know it’s not a wise thing to do, there are plenty of people who vent their frustrations through Facebook.

Then there are the ones who, while at work are totally professional, become almost Jekyll and Hyde-ish once they log on to Facebook. Imagine the shock of their employer should the employer discover that his stellar employee relishes dressing in women’s clothes or is a member a clothing optional club?

Most of us are pretty adept at keeping our work life and personal life separate. Who we are on Facebook doesn’t completely or wholly define us.

Facebook, for some, is simply a raucous playground where anything goes. Real life demands more decorum, finesse and restraint. Maybe that is why Facebook is so popular. Not only can you keep up with your friends, (and sometimes, enemies) and family, but it is a “safe” place to let your hair down and say what you really think. And maybe, after an adult beverage or two that place seems even safer.

Now, imagine all that information at the potential employer’s fingertips. Even worse, that potential employer has access to your password and to make matters worse yet, not only has your privacy been invaded, but so has that of all your Facebook friends.

I know there are those who would assert that all is fair when it comes to finding good, hardworking employees. I have to disagree.

There comes a time when Big Brother and all his associates have no business in our personal life. They don’t need to know every little detail of my life. My employer only needs to know that I am reliable, responsible and a hard worker.

Next thing we know, employers will be wanting the keys to our house so they can rifle through whatever they want in their misplaced effort to determine if we are the kind of employee they want.

Rifling through Facebook is no better than the above suggested scenario. It invades our privacy and makes us feel as if we have been assaulted. It’s outright creepy.

If you disagree, I suggest you carefully read through your postings or view your pictures with an unbiased eye. It’s unlikely that there isn’t one thing that an employer might find to refuse you employment.

Right now there are no laws barring employers from demanding that you open your Facebook to their eyes. There should be.

At the very least it should be tit for tat. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.