Hiring decisions are more important than ever. Employers want to hire qualified candidates who will contribute positively to the workplace, while also protecting their employees, customers, and organization from potential risks.
Traditional background screening plays an important role in the hiring process by helping employers verify information and identify relevant history. However, a traditional background check may not capture everything an individual has publicly shared online.
That’s where social media screening can provide an additional layer of insight.
What Is Social Media Screening?
Social media screening involves reviewing publicly available online content to identify workplace-relevant behavior and potential concerns.
Through our partnership with FAMA, Choice Screening is bringing employers the latest advancements in employment-focused social media screening. Fama’s technology is designed to evaluate publicly available online activity and identify content that may be relevant to workplace safety and organizational risk.
Examples may include publicly displayed content involving:
- Harassment or bullying
- Threats or threatening behavior
- Promotion or celebration of violence
- Workplace misconduct
- Discriminatory or hateful behavior
- Other conduct that may present a legitimate workplace concern
The goal is not to judge a candidate based on their personal life. Instead, social media screening focuses on information that may have a meaningful connection to the workplace.
Why Social Media Screening Matters
People share more of their lives online than ever before. Public posts, comments, photos, and other content can provide insight into behavior that may not appear through traditional screening methods.
For employers, this additional information can help provide a broader understanding of potential workplace risks before making a hiring decision.
Social media screening does not replace traditional background checks—it complements them.
When used alongside traditional screening, it can provide employers with another source of relevant information to consider when evaluating candidates.
Supporting More Informed Hiring Decisions
Hiring decisions should be based on relevant, consistent, and job-related information. Social media screening can help employers gain greater visibility into publicly displayed behavior that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Rather than relying on assumptions or individual opinions about a candidate's online presence, a structured screening process provides a more consistent approach to identifying potentially relevant concerns.
This additional insight can help employers:
- Make more informed hiring decisions
- Identify potential workplace risks earlier
- Gain greater visibility into publicly displayed behavior
- Support workplace safety
- Protect their employees, customers, and reputation
- Add another layer to their existing background screening program
A Focus on Relevance and Compliance
While social media screening can provide valuable insight, how that information is reviewed matters just as much as what is found.
Employers should avoid making decisions based on protected characteristics or irrelevant personal information. A responsible screening process should focus on workplace-relevant behavior and apply consistent standards to candidates.
Our approach is designed to help employers identify relevant behavioral concerns while removing protected-class information from the screening process. This helps support a more consistent and compliant hiring process.
The Future of Background Screening
As technology and online communication continue to evolve, employers need screening solutions that evolve with them.
Social media screening represents an additional tool employers can use to better understand publicly displayed behavior and potential workplace concerns. When combined with traditional background screening, it can provide a more comprehensive view of information available to employers during the hiring process.
At Choice Screening, we’re committed to helping employers make informed decisions with screening solutions that meet the changing needs of today’s workplace.
Looking for More Insight Before You Hire?
Social Media Screening is now available through Choice Screening. Contact us to learn how this newest screening solution can complement your existing background screening program and provide additional insight for more informed hiring decisions.
