by Aimee Cartwright
Did you know? 87% of people believe online disinformation has harmed their country’s politics (1).
This US Election season, take steps to ensure this does not affect your workforce. With SP Index Social Media Checks, you can commit to only hiring individuals with a risk-free online presence.
How Social Media Behaviour Intensifies During Election Season
On social media, anyone can have a platform. The constant stream of opinions makes it challenging for even the most seasoned critical thinkers to distinguish between fact and fiction.
During election season, this is only heightened by the pervasive threat of misinformation and disinformation.
Social media users are also more likely to engage in heated debates at this time, which can quickly spiral into a whirlwind of adverse behaviour.
While many voters are living in an echo chamber – perhaps their family, neighbours and colleagues share similar political views – social media allows immediate access to individuals with strongly opposing views, meaning conflict is inevitable.
The Risks of Adverse Social Media Content for Companies
If heated political debates were taking place within the office, with disinformation spreading like wildfire, employers would spring to action to protect their workforce and reputation. Why is it any different online?
The simple answer is that many employers are unaware of the harmful content their staff are sharing or engaging with on social media.
As a result, they are unknowingly putting all stakeholders at risk, and potentially enabling employees to share negative information about their organisation with their friends, family, and followers.
In the most secure fields, such as healthcare and politics, there is the additional layer of confidentiality. Without implementing Social Media Checks, employers may be risking the safety of their data.
The Case for Social Media Checks During US Election Season
Vetting employees’ social media is a crucial step in protecting your workforce, and the risks of neglecting Social Media Checks are only heightened in US Election season.
Even staff who rarely post on social media may be engaging with political content before, during and after US Election Day – including following political figures, liking posts, and perhaps persuading others to vote a certain way.
It’s difficult to escape controversial content at this time, meaning plenty of social media users are drawn to negative communities, where they may feel empowered to behave inappropriately. Even non-US citizen voters in the UK and elsewhere can find themselves in these online spaces, so employers must be vigilant when it comes to checking online behaviours.
Analysing social media profiles can also be a useful tool for selecting ambassadors. Staff members with positive online content that aligns with company values are likely to be successful brand ambassadors.
Conclusion
Demonstrate your commitment to safety by screening all employees this US Election season.
SP Index industry-specific Social Media Checks are top-tier, cost-effective background checks that delve deep into an individual’s online presence to uncover risks. Providing a shield against bias, we do not report on irrelevant content, including Protected Characteristics.
Get in touch with us today to incorporate our powerful Social Media Checks into your recruitment practices and policies:
Telephone: 0800 468 1688
Email: info@sp-index.com
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