10% of 16-34 year olds not hired because of stupid social media activities

10% of 16-34 year olds not hired because of stupid social media activities

by Andy Beal Advice

Oh look! It’s that time of year where we have to remind everyone once again that what you publicly share on social networks can turn around and bite you in the butt.

This PSA comes courtesy of CNET and On Device Research which suggests that, on average, 1 in 10 people between the age of 16 and 34 have been rejected for a job because of something posted to Facebook, Twitter et al.

employee-reputation-damage

What is somewhat mind blowing is that around 30% of them are worried that their current social media activities could hurt their future job prospects. Really? Well, how about stopping said activities and clean up your online reputation?

reputation-management-employees

[highlight color=”yellow”]Of course, they could just leave it be and hope my prediction comes true.[/highlight]

What prediction is that?

I’ve speculated before that as more and more embarrassing photos make their way on to social media profiles, employers will be de-sensitized to them. This could especially happen in the next 10 years or so–when those entering the workforce now start reaching management levels. At that point, there will be more empathy. 😉

Share the post "10% of 16-34 year olds not hired because of stupid social media activities"

ByAndy Beal

Andy Beal is The Original Online Reputation Expert™. A bestselling author of two critically-acclaimed reputation management books, a keynote speaker at dozens of events, and brand consultant experience with thousands of individuals and companies.

    6 Comments for “10% of 16-34 year olds not hired because of stupid social media activities”

    1. Maybe they’d rather work to live than live to work. Your entire post is predicated on the “wage slave” paradigm.

      1. I would suggest that you misread the findings. These are people that have said that their social media activities have hurt them in a job application. That suggests that they applied and wanted the job. 😉

        1. Actually your ‘prediction’ kinda carries the same point I was trying to make – that it’s not oversharing that’s the issue but the weight given to personal statements and activities by a potential employer, something that will probably fade as the Snapchat generation moves into hiring positions.

          1. Gotcha. Yeah, it will be interesting to see what happens, but I don’t think we’re there yet–as the chart suggests.

    2. Interesting data. Has anyone done research on the implications of a miss-spent youth vs what someone is like 10 years later? Two job candidates with equal credentials, one with a relatively “clean” social media profile and the other without: which do you pick?
      Offline, of course, we forget a colourful past, which is how it should be but the Internet won’t forget.
      Finally I note that you think in, say, 10 years time that companies will be more tolerant (or face employing no-one!) but the following 10 years after that there may be a backlash to a cleaner online profile. In other words over a whole career (45 years?) it is probably still safer to be cautious about the more outrageousness antics one gets up to.

    Comments are closed.