Facebook Post Sends Man to Prison

Be careful what you post online.

Comments

[Rachel]

I think that it is great that the courts have entered into another area of technology, using Facebook as a "character witness." However, my problem lies with Facebook being used in the job world. How is it legal for potential employers to look at a person's profile where things like sexual orientation, age, political views, and religious beliefs are posted? Those categories are never listed on any job application that I have ever seen.

[Bob]

Rachel, I would think of it like this : you're not required to put those things on a job app, but the law doesn't prevent you from blurting it out during the interview. Anything you put on the internet is public domain. You've basically offered info to the public that wasn't asked for. If this is a real concern, you can be like me, and don't use Facebook.

[Mike]

Rachel: You're right. It is illegal for employers to base an employment decision on prohibited information. But employers do illegal stuff all the time. So if you think something on Facebook will be an issue, don't post it.