As a general rule, I do not friend anybody on Facebook I haven’t at least met in real life. I view my Facebook world as a technological extension of my actual social network. I use Facebook to help build and maintain relationships, share videos, and see what bits of news and wit are circulating among my friends.
So if an employer asked me to provide my Facebook username, password, or for me to friend them with my private account—I would feel invaded. It’d feel like being followed around on weekends to see with whom I have dinner or to whom I say hello.
In 2010, Robert Collins of Maryland was asked to supply such information when reapplying for a position in his department after a voluntary leave of absence. As noted in this blog post, the ACLU of Maryland complained about the practice and the agency revamped its policy—and began asking applicants to “voluntarily” provide access to social media accounts during interviews. The ACLU of Maryland is now working on a social media privacy bill, “that would prohibit employers from demanding the social media passwords of applicants and employees.” You can read Collins’ testimony in support of that bill here.
It’s absurd that employees should have to choose between privacy and technology—almost as absurd as employers having the time and energy to dig around social media accounts. Access to and benefits from new technology should not come at a cost to privacy.