This document discusses credibility on the internet and social networking. It defines social networking and common features. It discusses how social networking can help and hurt individuals by centralizing personal information but also allowing easy information sharing. It provides examples of popular social networking sites and discusses maintaining meaningful connections on these sites. The document also discusses using social networking for recruitment purposes and maintaining personal, professional, and company credibility online through privacy settings and policies.

1. Credibility on the Internet
Presented by Amy Goldenburg, PHR
HR & Technology Consultant, The Quorum Group
VP Communications 2009, AHRMA

2. 1. Social Networking - What exactly is it?
2. Social Networking - How does it help and hurt us?
3. Making meaningful connections.
4. Recruitment and candidate information found on the web.
5. Maintaining Credibility Online
Personal, Professional & Company
Internet Credibility

3. Social Networking -
What are you talking about?
Social networking is a new way of communicating...
➡ Social Networking focuses on building online communities of
people who share interests and/or activities. (Wikipedia)
➡ Social Networking is to Email...
...what Email is to US Postal Mail.

4. Social Networking -
Common Features
Many have:
• Comments on others profiles, postings, or status
• Site-based chat and forum discussion areas
• Social Games (are the new golf)
Nearly all have:
• Public profile with update notifications
• Post your status (mood, recent activity, etc).
• Email type messaging within the site
• Group membership
• Mobile integration
• Add-on applications

5. How Does Social Networking Help/Hurt us?
Personal information is centralized on your profile.
Pro: Easy for friends and family to find your information.
Con: Everyone can keep up with your shared details.
It is easy and instantly send information updates.
Pro: You can share news with many people at the same time.
Con: Information goes out to all connections.
We’re all celebrities within our social network.
Pro: Instant feedback potential for news and answers to questions.
More responsibility as we learn from our mistakes?
Con: Tabloid effect as others can post information about us on their profiles.
Building online communities.
Pro: The Internet helps break down traditional barriers.
Con: New barriers are being created as judgements are made based on online
presence.

6. • LinkedIn - Professional Social Networking
• Twitter - Status updates only
• Facebook - Professional & Social Networking
• MySpace - Personal Social Networking
• Plaxo
• Spoke
• Naymz
• Classmates.com
• Ning
• Personal/Professional Blogs
• Even Google/Yahoo or other sites with public profiles
• YouTube
Social Networking Sites

7. 1. Determine your goal for using the social networking tool.
2. Establish criteria for choosing your connections.
3. Understand how your connections use the social networking
tool when accepting connection requests.
Making Meaningful Connections
➡ This could be different depending on which social
networking tool you’re using.

8. Personal or Professional Connections?
I want to share information with my friends and family, but
I’m concerned about sharing personal information with my
professional network. What are my options?
Facebook: Set up separate accounts on Facebook or Twitter.
Ning: Set up a Ning website (using invite only).
Blog: Create a personal blog (using invite only).

9. Why do we look up candidates online?
1. Weed out candidates.
2. Protect the company image.
➡ Social Networking eliminates name/ID confusion that occurs
with web search engines.

10. Why shouldn’t we look up candidates
online?
1. Potentially violates FCRA requiring candidate approval to
do a background check.
2. Risk of discrimination.
3. May violate the site’s terms of service policy disallowing
site use for commercial purposes.
4. Many states have laws protecting employee off-duty
behavior unless it is job related.
5. Information may be inaccurate.
6. Improper Netiquette may offend top quality candidates.
➡ SHRM’s HR Magazine Article, October 2007
“How Deep Can You Probe” by Rita Zeidner

11. Facebook Profile Information
Basic Profile Info
‣ Sex*
‣ Birthdate*
‣ Relationship status*
‣ Family members*
‣ Sexual orientation*
‣ Political views
‣ Religious views*
Additional Tabs
‣ Personal Info (Hobbies)
‣ Contact Info
‣ Education & Work
‣ Graduation years*
✴Illegal or risky information during the hiring process.

12. Privacy Settings
REALLY LOOK AT THESE...

13. Maintaining Credibility
1. If you don’t want to tell the WORLD, then don’t put it on
the Internet.
2. Manage your connections.
3. Think before you post (however insignificant it may be).
How COULD it be perceived by someone who doesn’t have
contextual information.
4. Leverage privacy settings!!!

14. Maintaining Company Credibility
✓ Include social networking in company policies.
• Policy about company defamation, slander, liable, etc.
• Proprietary information and intellectual property
• Marketing & communication plans
✓ Use behavioral interviewing
✓ Perform proper background checks
✓ Educate employees on acceptable use for work-related
purposes.

15. 1. It is always searchable.
2. Have a prepared response (written and verbal).
3. Prepare a marketing campaign.
4. Eventually new information takes the headlines.
5. Responsible activity going forward.
Regaining Credibility
➡ SHRM’s HR Magazine Article, August 2009
“Be Ready to Meet the Press” by Eric Krell