#mrk644

[jesseyuu]

Social Media Background Checks?

When you are a looking for a job and everything is going great but one day bad news hit out of no where and you did not get the job. Employers sometimes do gather information about someone who is applying for the job but is this ethical? Everyone has something they hold dear to themselves and would do anything to protect it, in this case the business is something employers are trying to protect and personally I do not see anything wrong with that, it is up to them whether to decide who is best for the job and who isn’t. Many may argue on this point but the real question is “is it wrong to protect something” or is this discrimination? Growing a business doesn’t just mean making a profit and swapping out “parts” that isn’t working, hiring the right employee is critical to the business. With the right employee who is motivated and willing to work hard for the success of the company, possibilities are endless. 

How the employers gather information using social media?

This is can be done quite easily. All it takes for an employer to gather your private information that exceeds your résumé is a quick search on Google. 

How to protect yourself

Know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate contents.

Be smart about what you post and share.

Readings 

https://www.go2hr.ca/articles/background-checks-using-social-media-sites

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/05/21/recruiting-reinvented-how-companies-are-using-social-media-in-the-hiring-process/#2e29e57d3992

[charlitobrown]

What is holding E-commerce back?

(youtube)

As E-commerce has changed the B2C landscape over the past several years, some experts predicted that online shopping would make over 15% of total consumer purchases by 2014. However, the actual number has been revealed to be as closer to 5% today, so what has been holding E-commerce back from living up to its expectations?

 According to market research company eMarketer, approximately 15% of all online shopping was done through some sort of mobile device in 2013. (eMarketer.com) A study done by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) found that tablet users accounted for 31% of users online in 2012. The study also found that 74% of these tablet users use their tablets at least once a day. (“A Portrait of Today's Tablet User Wave II” 6, 15)

As technology changes, Businesses must keep up with technology trends to be able to reach customers effectively. Given the increase in mobile device users, many retail websites still struggle to optimize their mobile shopping experience for users which ultimately frustrate them. Targeting users on portable devices such as mobile and tablets successfully require online retailers to make the shopping experience user friendly- that means making sure the visual layout of the site, product selection, order placement, ease of payment and order tracking is made to be as smooth as possible for the customer by concentrating on what the customer needs to do next to move forward with the order. Complicated checkout processes and other issues such as slow load times and required user registration will eventually lead to shopping cart abandonment by impatient users.

 Another major factor keeping consumers hesitant from shopping online are security concerns involving financial transactions. According to a survey done by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, “49% of Internet users worldwide felt vulnerable while shopping online or making online transactions, and 42% of users would utilize online payment systems more often if they felt they were protected from cyber fraud.” (Kaspersky.com) The report shed light on justified fears, as it also found that 43% of respondents had come across some kind of financial threat, users of Apple products being the most affected. (Kaspersky.com) While the online marketplace is still evolving, cyber data protection and safety continues to be a real concern for consumers, especially in the wake of events like retail giant Target managing to lose 40 million shopper credit and debit cards in December 2013. (Reuters)

 For products such as clothing, high-end jewelry and handbags, a physical inspection is necessary to complete the sale. Consumers need to try on clothes to make sure the size, fit and feel of the product is adequate before making these types of purchases. Wearable luxury items also require close inspection by the customer to ensure the quality of the good being sold is up to the standard of the customer and no defects are found within the product. Many retailers have begun to include highly detailed images of their products on their websites which allow users to zoom in to examine the product closely; however there is currently no system that can replace physical inspection of actual items being sold to a customer at the point of purchase.

Luxury goods shopping in a brick and mortar store also include a highly personalized customer service experience- which is difficult to replicate in an online environment, especially since there is no human interaction in most e-stores. Many online stores offer customer service in the form of online chat support or 1-800 help lines, yet this still does not measure up to the level of personalized service offered by staff in brick and mortar stores. At the end of the day, customers will end up choosing to go to a physical store to make these kinds of purchases if not for the service, then to see, hold and inspect the product before buying.

Works Cited

 Digital image. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://img.youtube.com/vi/uOdcn6Q8cVA/0.jpg>.

"Smartphones, Tablets Drive Faster Growth in Ecommerce Sales - EMarketer." Smartphones, Tablets Drive Faster Growth in Ecommerce Sales - EMarketer. EMarketer, 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.

A Portrait of Today's Tablet User Wave II. N.p.: Online Publishers Association, June 2012. PDF.

"Security Concerns Holding Back Usage of Online Payment Services, Kaspersky Lab Study Shows." Security Concerns Holding Back Usage of Online Payment Services, Kaspersky Lab. B2B International in Conjunction with Kaspersky Lab, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Reuters. "Target Inevitably Loses Shoppers In Wake Of Data Breach." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

[charlitobrown]

How to maintain a professional image on social media

Many employers have begun turning to social media as an additional tool for screening prospective employees. So what can you do to ensure you maintain a professional image? 

1.      Check for any inappropriate comments or photos on social media pages

Consider un-tagging  or deleting any photos which may affect your professional image 

 2.      Lock down your account settings

Most social media sites allow you to adjust your privacy settings- learn how to play with this and you can adjust settings such as who can find you, who can add you, who can see your posts/photos and who you share with

 3.       Filter out comments and posts made by others

Some sites such as Facebook allow you to review posts made by others first before making them public. This gives you some control over what other post about you and allows you to react, avoiding any unwanted surprises.  We all have that one friend who will say something inappropriate completely out of the blue.

4.       Limit posts

Be conscious about what you are posting to your social network and how others will receive it. If you feel that it should be a private item but you still want to share it, you can always change the settings of specific groups, posts or albums to a private setting where it is only accessible to individuals that you have approved.

 5.       Keep professional profiles up-to-date

Although this is not really a privacy issue, job-seekers should keep their professional information up-to-date. This makes it easier for recruiters or interviewers to get a general idea of your professional background without having to access your resume.

[amandeepdhanjal]

Find Out Why You Should Be Concerned With Social Tracking As Much As You Are With Stalking!

Social Tracking is just another way users need to be hesitant about what they are sharing online on social networking sites and apps. While users are busy online with their “Tweets”, “Likes” and their “1+’s” and sharing content, little do they know that these actions and behaviours are all being tracked online and recorded. Each of these widgets can be tracked can work in conjunction with cookies. What are those you make ask? Well they are little bits of information that are stored on your computer or smartphone and track your online behaviour across various sites.

Now that your online habits and actions have been recorded, such as the websites you visit, the products you browse, the links you may share or “like” can all be tracked all while invading your privacy. 

So why do these sites want to know where you visit and what you like? Well its simple they’re “stalking” you, trying to understand their users, but don’t ask them because they will insist they are only tracking this data to provide you with a better user experience. These social networking sites believe that targeted ads to you are better for your lifestyle than being bombarded by ads that you don’t fit the target market for.

Don’t be fooled, this behaviour by these sites are intrusive and users need to be cautious about what information they are sharing with prying eyes. Luckily cookies for the most part are harmless and can easily be deleted through your browser’s settings.

Image Source: http://recruitingdaily.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/2014/02/stalking

[rashka-rashka-blog-blog]

“big brother is watching” is it hit or mishit?

Please comment below those of you who still does not know that your potential employers do “internet background check” on you?!

For those of you who know this, I give thumbs up!

______________________________________________________________

Yeah, yeah. It is no secret anymore that not only people who secretly in love with you might be stalking your social media accounts but big corporation too!

In this-day-and-age, it became so “normal” for others indirectly get to know you with the help of internet and enormous ways to be able to find information about you; that creeps me out.  Imagine the situation, where a person whom you are officially meeting for the first time already knows some aspects of your life before hands. This is where we can connect it to the process when an employer conducts some social media check on you; gets to know where and when did you party, who is you significant one or even learns your personal info that you might want to hide; before actually calling you for the interview.

source: https://carynlevyonline.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/just-go-google-yourself/

______________________________________________________________

Well, it might scare you from the first side, however, have you ever though that it might have a positive side as well?

-No? 

-Well I believe there are lots!

Did you think that it gives you an advantages to be able to differentiate yourself from other candidates when you know that the employer will go through your social media?

How about the fact that you are also able to showcase your true personality and talents via social media platform? 

Because, lets be honest, we know that it is nearly impossible to express yourself on two pieces of paper like resume and cover letter.

Here is more: 

source: http://www.careerattraction.com/how-to-survive-being-googled-by-potential-employers/

______________________________________________________________

In a nut shell...

DO’s

Make sure you keep your account information up-to-date

Professional

Surf that wave, explore, get engaged and network with people who share same professional / everyday interest.

DON’Ts

Think two times, three times, four...dozen before posting something controversial

Don’t forget that internet is ruthless and a big brother remembers everything!

source: http://complexitymaze.com/2010/07/

[danielgrieco]

Your nudes are safe, privacy changes coming to Twitter and other SM Platforms!

No this post will not contain leak nudes, but itwill contain new improvements to Twitters privacy policy. Online harassment with statuses, pictures, generated content, and inappropriate messaging have become problems within social media of late!  Celebrities in 2014 became the example or the guinea pig  of revenge porn, one of the most inappropriate types of content harassment there was in 2014.This is what Twitter is concentrating on this year, the change of their privacy policies and elimination of privacy issues that have appeared.  

Twitters two main changes were:

1. You may not publish or post other people’s private and confidential information!

2.  Users may not make direct threats pertaining to violence, including threats against a person or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, etc.

Privacy does not only pertain to pictures or content, rather it also looks styles of conduct online by users. As of 2015, legal ramifications will become more apparent in the online world if users continue to act in non-appropriate manors to one another.  IN MY OPINION, social media will benefit from similar actions Twitter is taking because it will allow them to offer users a safer and more appropriate platform. Secondly, it will help Twitter retain users of all ages due to the positive changes made.  Keeping private is hard enough in the real world, at this point any improvement to major SM platforms privacy policies will be for the best in the long run.

Picture Sources: 

http://goo.gl/iyRXYy

http://goo.gl/NPFsq5

[stanny14]

The Scary Truth About Data Scraping

Data Scraping is technique used by individuals that want togather large amounts of data, harvest it, and export the entire data collected into third party applications such as Microsoft Excel. The information gathered can be very widespread from tracking people’s online activity and harvesting personal data and also conversations from social media pages to other online activity. Data scraping is not limited to just targeting individuals and their personal information. One could also be gathering information from company websites and harvesting all relevant data.

Data scraping might seem illegal and unethical, but it is only unethical. The scary thing is that technically anyone with data scraping software can harvest any information they please. No consent is needed from the website owner to scrap data from their website. The website may state in their terms and conditions on what you can and can’t do on the website, with regards to data scraping and other techniques that are similar to data scraping. But no legal actions can take place, as data scraping is allowed under the law.

 The way I perceive data scraping is an invasion of privacy, even if the information is publicly available. In no way, shape or form should data scraping be acceptable for any use, whether it’s for personal, business or selling the information gathered to marketers.

Image Source: http://www.habiledata.com/images/web-data-extraction.jpg

[edwardcorona]

Information Search On Potential Employees: Is That Ethical?

One question that has been asked since the rise of the digital world is if my information private? With the World Wide Web, it is extremely simple to find all sorts ofinformation, especially information on people. Employers utilize this information to search job applicants to see if they are qualified and to give some insight of that person and what ideologies and characteristics they may have. Now this bring up the question, “is this ethical?”

Job applicants feel that it is an invasion of privacy and that their online person does not reflect their professionalism at work. Employers believe that they should be allowed to look at their profiles because it give insight to who they are hiring and what types of decision they make. This have become a factor on whether or not you will be hired by the company and my job applicants see this as unfair. Of course this is an invasion of privacy and can make the company look because they are disregarding privacy, but if they do have your consent it should be fine.

Overall employers should have a right to see your profile, as long as they have consent, they should be allowed to see what kind of person they are hiring. Also if you don’t want your employer to view certain things, you shouldn't have it there in the first place. You should do a background check on yourself to see what may be offensive or choose lack of decision making and although privacy is an issue, if there is consent then I see no problem with it.

What do you think? Is it ethical for employers to search job applicants online without their consent? Or is it okay for employers to search?