I just about fell out of my chair when I read that it is an increasing trend in the United States that potential employers are asking applicants to give their Facebook passwords during the interview process.  I mean literally almost fell out of my chair.  The entire concept of that is so appauling to me that I can’t even begin to describe it.  This isn’t going to be a long post for a pretty simple reason.  Would you give an employer your mail to look through?  Would you give them the keys to your house to look through?  Giving up a Facebook account, email access, etc is the exact same thing.

The other consideration is that when you give up your Facebook login details to anyone, you are not only compromising your own personal information, but also the personal information of your Facebook friends, since anyone logging into your account would also have access to your friends and their information which they have shared with you.

Then there is the simple fact that if an employer is going to base whether or not they hire me on my Facebook account, Twitter profile, or any other kind of personal device like that, they are not an employer that is one that is worth working for.  If an employer is not going to hire me because of a picture of me at a bar having a shot, than what realistic expectation do I have as to the type of workplace that will be?

I will say it again, never give your passwords for any kind of online account to anyone, especially a potential employer. They are not worth it.  I could go on a lot longer about this, and how much of an invasion of privacy it is, etc.  But I don’t need to, because the entire idea is so hilariously bad it speaks for itself.