The article points that
with the development of the social networking companies tend to look for the
availability for employees’ or applicants’ accounts in social network websites
to review them. However, “many users, especially on Facebook, have their
profiles set to private” (AP). I think that is what makes employers ask for the
login information of the applicants. In my opinion, giving them the password is
invasion of privacy. Facebook, in particular, is a place where people share family
updates or personal news with their family and friends, which are of no
importance to the employer. Employers are not family or friends to have the
right to keep an eye on employees’ profiles.
Not all companies ask for
passwords; some found other ways to view employees’ activities. “Companies that
don't ask for passwords have taken other steps -- such as asking applicants to
friend human resource managers or to log in to a company computer during an
interview (AP)." It would be acceptable if they send a friend request,
because in this case the employee can monitor what they can view that is ones’
right. Other companies, such as Sears use a third party application that takes
information from the applicant’s or employee’s Facebook page with permission
when login in to Sears job sites. I do not mind this act, for it asks for
permission. The applicant may and may not accept it.
The reactions of
applicants when were asking were not the same. Some refused to give up their
login information; others did not have any problem with giving their passwords
to job interviewers. One reason that makes applicants give their password even
when they do not agree with the idea is that they are in need for the job. Collins
response when he was asked about giving his password to interviewer was “I
needed my job to feed my family. I had to (AP)”. If I would be asked for my
password to any of my social media accounts, I would leave the interview. I do
not want a job that would invade my privacy.
The article mentioned that
kinds of the materials companies look for when they ask for applicants’ passwords
include “inappropriate pictures or relationships with people who are underage,
illegal behavior (AP).” I think that companies cannot keep track on every
single act an applicant or employee does, for they can hide it. There is a
possibility that an applicant does illegal behaviors but does not post them on
Face book for the seek of the interview. Therefore, there is no point of asking
for applicant’s passwords when they can hide what they do not want their
employers to see.
In final
consideration, I do not agree with companies asking for employees’ or
applicants’ passwords of their social media accounts. There is no difference
between companies asking for employee’s private correspondence
with his or her family and friends and asking for Facebook password. I think of
it like asking for the key to my house. For this reason, I would not accept if
anyone asked me for my Facebook password. In fact, I agree with the cities that
banned and will ban such as act. 