Using Social Networking Web Sites in Hiring and Retention Decisions (Report‪)‬

There's a whole new world out there in cyberspace, the world of Facebook and MySpace. Millions of individuals post information about themselves and interact with friends through these sites. Not surprisingly, employers have found the sites of interest in hiring and retention decisions, but using them can raise thorny legal issues. Although there have been some court cases, case law is far from settled. Does the site's "owner" have a right to privacy? Could an employer be found negligent if it did" not check out a current or prospective employee's site postings? Following the constructive suggestions presented here may help employers navigate these largely unexplored waters. **********