Why Youth Must Be Careful About What They Post Online

Social media keeps youth engaged and hooked offering them several benefits like connecting with like-minded people and expressing themselves but the posts liked and shared by them are proving a threat to their future prospects. A simple like can prove costly to their career.

Here, people speak not with words but posts, opinions are louder than outfits and social media history is weightier than the premise. The same platforms are now going under the scanner and scrutinized before issuing visas and offering appointment letters. Social media vetting or screening has become a crucial gateway to enter one’s dream job and career. During this process, the candidate’s Facebook, Instagram and X handles are thoroughly verified to get an idea about the applicant’s mental maturity.

Srinivas, a BTech graduate from Amalapuram, was selected in the campus recruitment drive but even after six months, did not receive the call letter. On contacting the placement cell in the college, they revealed that the company considered his social media behavior inappropriate for the post and the HR representatives set his application aside on observing that he liked posts which incited a specific section of the society. Srinivas lost the Rs 12-lakh package job.

Avinash dreamt of getting recruited in America but none was ready to offer him a job as he is a fresher. So, he fabricated a fake experience certificate and then he secured an appointment letter. However, soon as he landed in America, the staff deported him to India. He was perplexed over the move but later found that his WhatsApp chat with his close friend, in which he revealed how he cheated the recruiter, threw him out of job.

Several such cases have been reported in the recent times. Bursting out in anger or snubbing someone would be momentary and everything could get back to normal, once you and your friends forget the incident. However, in the digital age, posting our mental condition or emotions on social media would get recorded as history and can thwart our future prospects as recruiters try to delve into the employees’ mindset through his social media activity.

Immigration officials are scanning WhatsApp chats, and emails to understand if the applicant has an adjusting or acrimonious mentality. Special agencies are also working to decode the applicants’ mental patterns, through special AI tools. In case any aberration is detected, the applicant will be at loss. Social media scanning is mandatory even for sanctioning of loans.

It is worth noting that neither the visa issuing authorities nor the recruiters convey the message about their suspicion on their behavior to him/her, leaving the candidate guessing in a loop.

Don’ts

In the wake of the severe impact, it is suggested that youth do not post any objectionable, controversial or inciting messages.

Stop making critical comments or posting memes against film actors and political leaders.

Abstain from making cheap comments and slur against women.

Stop liking posts that consider consumption of intoxicants and drugs as a privilege.

Restrain from taking sides on international wars and criticizing ethnic groups.

Avoid posting jokes about boss’ behavior or mocking at him as it would invite wrath of the higher authorities. This could end up in losing a job and not being able to get recruited by a new employer as the posts would be examined during social media vetting.

Suggestions

It would be ideal if the candidates could scan their social media by themselves and change the privacy status or delete objectionable comments from the social media handles, before applying for visas, loans and jobs.

At the same time, it is not advisable to completely delete the posts and make the social media handle inactive, as it would lead to several doubts.