Life has two part, one is full of responsibility and another is fun and entertainment. Person should be analyzed through his responsibilities but not by entertaining positions. There are several social networks which can be used as entertaining tools but in a real life and working life, responsibilities can not be shown through these networks. so in my suggestion the employee are stupid to check their social life through this network. And another thing, now a days these networks has been used to promoting different issues such as environment, developing countries and many more so please do not listen to stupid employee.

Mr. Mind, Oslo, Norway

Has anyone ever considered that an employer might think *more* positively of a candidate after viewing a cunningly-crafted employer-centric Facebook profile, or even an ordinary profile that happened to show the person in a good light?

James E. Petts, Burnham, England

Honestly, I wouldn't want to work for an employer who is going to judge me based primarily on my Myspace or Facebook profile anyway. It is against the law to ask on applications and on resumes about things that are posted on both social networking sites such as sexuality, religious affiliation, and age, how has there not been a lawsuit about that yet? You could technically claim the employer refused to hire you based on discrimination against something they aren't supposed to check for in the first place.

Lindsey, Oneonta, NY, USA

very interesting article.

I'm a NY based recording artist who maintains a MySpace page to promote and showcase my music.

I still do have to have a day job, however. Recently, in my job search, a prospective employer saw my MySpace page and was REALLY appalled after discovering it. They contacted the employment agency that arranged the interview and actually said "I can't believe you would send someone like that in for an interview"

I was SHOCKED and embarrassed by their reaction. They acted as if I was running an child pornography site!!!!! Please know my MySpace page has nothing provocative on it! It has my music (dance music) and has some "glam" pictures of me. There is nothing even remotely provocative. So, I was really amazed and disheartened by this reaction.

...just thought I’d share my experience

Tina, New York, USA

it is Facebook's sale of 'super users' to businesses that is part of their business model. There are very few other ways for the company to make money. Don't think for a moment that Facebook would prioritise user privacy over an unprecendented opportunity to make a serious amount of money.

Alan, Oxford,

I agree - technically it's up to the user to define how accessible their page can be to outsiders. So as long as you adjust your privacy settings, you're just not at risk.

Rachel, London,

Other comments are incorrect in some respects. Facebook's default settings allow other members of the same 'networks' to view full profile information so in theory it is possible for employers/admissions tutors to check potential candidates information. This, however, can be altered using the privacy settings available but it requires conscious action by the user - not something a large number of people are capable of!

Dan, Somerset,

Should i be worried that a google search of my name turns up a report of a guilty verdict for GBH for a person with the same name as me?!

David, Wales,

There is one thing here that Companies routinely forget to do as part of this 'personailty typing': It should do the analysis on its own staff first.

They then look at which staff members they want more of and should go actively looking for those kinds of people. I think that many companies would be very surprised if they knew all the details of who they had working for them.

J'Dawg, Bristol,

"Agree with JW, the only way to access a profile on Facebook is for a user to accept another as a friend. The article is a load of rubbish! "

Not true - you can search a profile by name and see the profile using the FB search engine. Try it - enter a name like Smith or Thomson for example and see who you get!

You can also see profiles according to the network you belong to.

Finally, according to your preferences, FB can make your profile available on search engines

Norman Hunter, Guildford, UK

ALL profiles are visible on Facebook and MySpace UNLESS the USER set the profile to private.

Do a search, on Facebook, any name in BLUE is public and any name in BLACK the user has set the profile to private.

You have been warned!

NetMan, London,

Although yes, you do hav to be accepted as a friend on Facebook to viewe profile, often people will accept just about anyone, so this is not too difficult. And MySpace doesn't have any similar barriers, so it is perfectly possible.

More than that, I worked for a London recruitment firm for few years, and have been known to do this. However, we are not put off overmuch by activities such as drinking that are considered normal. Drug use or violent imagry is a far bigger problem.

Answer - use Facebook for its original purpose, and don't just invite hundreds to view your profile to make you feel popular.

Or follow the old advice - never do anything you would be ashamed to have read out at your funeral.

M, London,

Restrict your profile to your friends.

I'm amazed how many people on Facebook allow their mobile number, full date of birth or email address to be visible to anyone too.

Luke, London, UK

oh it is quite shamed for employers to do such kinds of things.
you know it is striking your candidates privacy baddly and some high quality staffs may also be deleted for personal affairs.As a result your compay may not achieve better performance. SO it's my opinion

howl, shantou, prc

Agree with JW, the only way to access a profile on Facebook is for a user to accept another as a friend. The article is a load of rubbish!

Can't see why an employer would want to take someone on who doesn't have a life anyway!?

RobD, Bracknell, UK

yet another rubbish story that has been doing the rounds for months ... in the previous version it was some delusional oxbridge admissions tutor who claimed to be checking applicants facebook pages.

why is the story rubbish? Because viewing a profile on facebook, and any other content, requires permission from the owner of the page. End of alarmist story.

shane, utrecht,

Is this the case? I'm pretty certain that the only way for a 3rd party to access your facebook profile would be for them to request you as a friend and for that person to accept the request. Its not quite as easy to obtain information as this article suggests.

JW, brisbane, Queensland, Australia