The use of social media for public screening of job applicants can offer benefits to an employer such as a relatively low cost recruitment alternative and a means for finding information about applicants that may be more honest than what is found in cover letters and resumes. However, costs may also be involved with this use of social media. For example, a charge of discrimination may occur (see Critical Thinking Question 5-25); postings that appear to have been by a candidate may have been made by someone else; or information about a candidate’s activities may be old and no longer valid.

As a team, identify potential benefits of the use of social media for public screening. Also, identify potential costs of this approach. How could the potential costs be reduced?