Employers Use of Social Networking Sites:

A Socially Irresponsible Practice

By Leigh A. Clark & Sherry J. Roberts

Journal of Business Ethics, 95,507-525

Publishing and Editorial Information for the Journal of Business Ethics

Source Information

Springer Science+Business Media or Springer is a global publishing company that publishes books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals.
Springer also hosts a number of scientific databases, including SpringerLink, Springer Protocols, and SpringerImages. Book publications
include major reference works, textbooks, monographs and book series; more than 168,000 titles are available as e-books in 24 subject
collections.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springer_Science%2BBusiness_Media

Basic Journal
Information

The Journal of Business Ethics is a peer-reviewed academic journal publishing s original articles from a wide variety of methodological and
disciplinary perspectives concerning ethical issues related to business.

Target Audience

Articles found within the Journal of Business Ethics are directed towards those who are interested in business ethics, the business community,
universities, government agencies and consumer groups. As this encompasses a wide range of individuals, articles are written devoid of
specialist terminology.
Articles in the Journal of Business Ethics can be accessed online for free through the open-access license the journal has with Springer.
Volume reprints have varying costs.
Editor-in-Chief
Alex C. Michalos
University of Northern British Columbia, Canada

Subscriber
Information
Editor Information

Dr. Michalos is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, and Director of the Institute for Social
Research and Evaluation. Dr. Michalos also serves as president of the Canadian Rural and Remote Health Association. Dr. Michalos founded
and edits 4 scholarly journals: Social Indicators Research; Journal of Business Ethics (with Deborah Poff); Teaching Business Ethics (with
Deborah Poff); Journal of Happiness Studies (with Ruut Veenhoven and Ed Diener).Dr. Michalos has served on the Editorial Boards of the
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, Research on Philosophy and Technology, Theory and Decision, International Journal of Value-Based
Management, Optimum, and the South Asian Journal of Psychology. He is the Vice President of Academy II (Humanities and Social Sciences)
of the Royal Society of Canada, President of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, and past President of the International Society
for Philosophy and Technology.
Source:
Institute for social research and evaluation
http://web.unbc.ca/isre/alex.html

Author and Article Information

Authors

Authors for the article are Leigh A. Clark and Sherry J. Roberts.
Leigh Clark, PhD, JD, serves as an associate professor at Middle State Tennessee University. Her research
interests are in Work/Life Balance, Equity Sensitivity, Virtual Collaboration and Legal and Ethical Issues in
Management. She is published in journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics, The Health Care Manager, and
the Journal for Healthcare Quality, the Journal of Managerial Issues and the Marketing Management Journal. Dr.
Clark is also a member of the Georgia Bar Association.
Dr. Sherry A. Roberts is an associate professor teaching business communication in the Jennings A. Jones College
of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. With a research focus of online communication, Dr. Roberts has
published in several professional journals. She has presented on the subjects of instructional technology, personal
finance, communication, and business education at the international, national, regional, and state levels.

Audiences general
knowledge on subject
matter

As articles posted in the journal are written without specialist jargon, the article is easy to read even for the novice
reader. The impact of information posted to social networking sites is discussed not just within academic journals
but in the media, schools and homes. As such most readers will be readily familiar with the topic.

Timeliness of article

The article was published in the journal in 2010, however, social media as a topic of discussion is more relevant
than ever. Increasing numbers of people are joining social networking sites, they are often reminded that
information posted is available. Young people are often told that what is put on there can come back to haunt them.
The consequences of posting information on social networking sites has become a relevant social topic, the subject
of PSA and various articles in the media.

Previous work on the

subject matter

The authors cites numerous surveys previously completed to support their hypothesis that employers use social
networking sites to conduct informal background checks. The authors also conducted a survey, the results of which
also supported the idea that employers conduct informal background checks using information found on social
network site, and may make hiring decisions based on the information found on those sites.

Article Design and Analysis

Hypothesis

The authors hypothesize that employers decide not to hire an individual based on information posted to social networking
sites. By using these informal background checks, the authors posit that this is harmful to society.

Methodology

The authors reviewed and cited a myriad of studies on the subject of employers using social media sites to do formal
background checks. The authors also conducted a survey on the subject as well. The authors did not disclose the number
of subjects involved, questions asked or what types of information caused employers to be disinclined to hire a particular
individual.

Theory and law

The article discusses the natural and legal rights to privacy citing prominent thinkers such as Aristotle, John Locke, and
Margaret Mead, as well as theories relating to corporate responsibility, privacy rights and human rights laws.

Significance of Research

As the internet and technology continues to grow, concerns continue to arise regarding eroding expectations of privacy and
employer intrusion on behaviors outside of work. It is important for both employers and employees to not only understand
the consequences of posting information on these sites, but the ramifications involved for society when employers use the
information posted on the internet. The consequences can be far reaching because it can modify the type of social and
professional interaction individuals engage on in social networking sites.

Historical Basis

Previous surveys and articles written on the matter support the idea that employers use social medial to conduct
background checks. Authors cited not only work from academic peer-reviewed journals, but also surveys conducted by
companies such as Facebook and CareerBuilder .

Design

The articles discusses the role of technology, privacy expectations, and cites numerous surveys and previous work on the
matter to discuss and support their hypothesis. The article uses tables to illustrate previous surveys conducted on employer
use of social networking sites to conduct informal background checks. The authors did not provide details on the design of
the surveys or the methodology employed in the design of their survey.

Conclusions and Concerns

Article conclusions

The authors cite a disconnect between how users of social network sites view the purpose of them and how employers
use the site to gather information. As social networking sites serve as a local gathering place, however unlike
traditional gathering places these actions taken are permanent. The authors ask that employers consider social impact
on society as this type of information gathering will have a chilling effect on online interactions. The authors go on to
suggest guidelines to follow if this type of informal background check is necessary.

Critical Concerns

While the authors make a concerted effort to cite surveys and theories all of which would support their hypothesis,
critical information was missing from the article. For example, while employers may have stated that they chose not to
hire an individual based upon information posted on social networking sites they did not provide examples of what they
information was. If individuals posted messages and pictures in which individuals were engaging in illegal activity, it
would only be prudent for the employer to not hire the individual. The authors also failed to provide information as to
the types of questions asked in the surveys. As leading questions can skew the results of any survey. Additionally, as
readers are unaware of the numbers of respondents and methodologies employed it is difficult for the reader to be able
to fully judge the results.