What are your thoughts about your "Social Media" activities being a part of your background check for a clearance?

1SG Steven Stankovich — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:44:01 -0400

<p>Despite the privacy concerns, “the potential value of social media for clearance
assessment cannot be ignored, and should be evaluated further,” the report said.  Read the entire article...</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140319/NEWS05/303190050?sf24043856=1</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://www.militarytimes.com/graphics/ody/alticon.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140319/NEWS05/303190050?sf24043856=1" target="_blank">Report: Social media relevant to background checks</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">
The Defense Department should consider reviewing the social media accounts of applicants as part of background checks for security clearances, according to a recent Pentagon report.
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Response by MSG Cameron Davis made Mar 19 at 2014 3:46 PM

MSG Cameron Davis — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:46:11 -0400

MSG Stankovich, You beat me to the punch! I was seconds behind you in this post. Actually, I think that if you are applying for a security clearance, you give up the right to claim privacy in background checks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 3:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:49:06 -0400

MSG,<div><br></div><div>I think you make an excellent point.  With how popular social networking has become in recent years, I would argue that people can now interact more via social networks than face to face.  With so much interaction, it is probably a very good idea to look at someone's activity for a clearance, especially if they have foreign contacts on that social network.</div>

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 19 at 2014 4:03 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:03:44 -0400

I think it's a good tool to gauge who someone REALLY is...especially in this age.<br><br>Also, social media background checks are already happening in corporate America and during law enforcement screenings (my brother is a Sheriff's Deputy and interviews potential candidates)

Response by PO3 Jonathan Cooper made Mar 19 at 2014 6:03 PM

PO3 Jonathan Cooper — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:03:13 -0400

There are a lot of people who will post their life stories on social media sites (FB, Twitter, etc.) but there are also people who will either post only their "best face" or try to masquerade to be something that they're not to increase their social status and how they appear. I think making social media a part of background checks can tip the balance in exposing any possible red flags or proving who a person truely is. However the generations who are growing up with this type of social access, as well as others, haven't learned any form of self-control on what to post and how it may be perceived, which MSG Davis just hit on.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 1:22 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 01:22:00 -0400

Call me stupid, but I actually thought it was part of the investigation. It is a great idea. You can tell so much about someone with what they post. I have friends that post questionable things (luckily none of them are active duty) that would raise major red flags if they were going for a clearance. I feel time and money can be saved if that is one of the first things checked. I find it hilarious when underage persons post pictures of them drinking. That might point to a problem. Many Soldiers are not the brightest, and many issues can be caught early on. People reveal a lot about lifestyle, extremist views, dissatisfaction with the government, differing allegiances as well as criminal activity on their sites, in an effort to look cool.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 8:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:32:59 -0400

Social media is part of who the person is and is often public.

Any information that is available publicly on social media is a MUST for consideration during a background check.

If you conduct a social engineering experiment on them or their network...that's a little more gray, but I wouldn't object to it.

If you are trying to break encryption on a social media site to see their private messages...well, that is a different story.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 8:36 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:36:48 -0400

Actually I think this social media stuff is like a diary. Oh sure, you can specify who you want to see it but as far as employers, it is none of their darn business. I find it creepy and should be protected from jerk employers who have nothing better to do than snoop.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 8:48 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:48:14 -0400

I not only believe that social media should be a part of all backround checks, but should also be something that needs to be checked up on, on a regular basis by higher ups. Whether it be specially assigned people Like PAO, or just having NCOs following their soldiers, and checking up on them, and making sure that the soldiers are aware of just how big an impact social media has on his/her image, and the image of the Army. There are multiple examples of Social media being used to help a buddy in need. there was a guy who used this app that let others rate your hotness. the dude posted a picture of him holding a gun to his head. Thanks to social media, this perosn was found, and he got the help he needed. There are multiple different examples of this. the other side of this is malcontent. Society thrives of negativity. As such, we love to post all the bad things, so people can see how bad we think we have it. It's like being "cool" in high school. the more depressing an individual's posts are, the more attention they recieve. This will naturally make people want to post their negative emotions online, due to it being the more popular topic, and getting more "likes" and what not. There is plenty of exampls of soldier posting about doing bad things, before they happen. Snowden is a big one. He posted all over his site about the things he was gearing up to do.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 11:16 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:16:59 -0400

HELL yes!  If you can't control yourself on social media, how can you be trusted with our nations secrets?  In addition to being a window into a persons self control and personal information filters, what a person puts on their Facebook is often a direct line to their base beliefs.  If they are bashing their chain of command or complaining about the lack of privacy we have due to 'NSA spying' on their Twitter account, they may not be a good condidate for a TS clearance.

Response by SPC David Tabor made Mar 20 at 2014 11:35 AM

SPC David Tabor — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:35:05 -0400

Honestly, a background check should cover any and all information that can be obtained legally. If an individual is posting things on social media that would disqualify them for a security clearance, then I would not want them to have said clearance. 

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 11:56 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:56:04 -0400

I have mixed feelings about this.

In one hand it's my private life. I don't want the government knowing what I decided to post at 0230 after I got back from the bar with the guys. The least the government knows about me and my private life the better and safer I feel. All my personal social profiles are more or less on lock down. You can't see anything unless you are a direct friend of mine. I have to approve every tagged photo, comment, status etc, before it's linked to me.

On the other hand I realize when you go through the process of applying for a security clearance you are willfully allowing the government to go through your private life, social media included. As long as that is as far as it goes.

I saw someone post above that they think our CoC should be monitoring our social media use. To this I say, No. Absolutely not. It's my life. My circle of friends. They don't need to know about anything we do, unless it has some affect on my performance with in the Army.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 6:38 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:38:42 -0400

As many others, I have mixed feelings.

Generation Y has grown up on using social media as a way to stay in touch with friends and family members. While some of them don't use these websites "as directed" (let's be honest, it's kind of obvious who will make it in the service by the content of their statuses), I don't think it should determine whether or not they receive the clearance. The only exception I can think of if there is something online that contradicts what they told their interviewer, or that is illegal, or both.

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Aug 8 at 2014 6:11 AM

SGT Suraj Dave — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 06:11:58 -0400

The only way social media will hurt you on a background check is if you don't know how to use it correctly.

Set all of your albums, posts, etc.. to "Friends Only", now log out and look at your page. No one you don't approve of can see your profile.

Lets say you're scared there's someone on your friends list, or a couple people, who you suspect may use social media against you, (i.e. SNCO's, Soldiers who snitch to NCO's, etc...) put them in a custom group, then block the group from viewing the posts/pics you want the rest of your friends to see.

Another basic way to hide yourself from all of this is to simply not use your name on Facebook. Example, lets say your name is Joseph Rodriguez, Set your profile name to "Joey Rod".

Response by 1SG Rich Martinez made Oct 19 at 2014 11:36 PM

1SG Rich Martinez — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:36:16 -0400

I feel that it should be a part of the background checks. For some reason when it comes to Social Media people think that its ok to say anything about anyone or post a comment about a belief in something and a lot are negative. It goes to show ones true character.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2016 3:18 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:18:26 -0400

As bad as it sounds they can only see what the public sees. If you want them to see your facebook then open it up. If you don't then take a little time and go through and secure your page. In all honestly im glad they blasted this out. Hopefully people will realize how easy it is to social engineer with just someones facebook. If your not sure how to secure your facebook then go see if someone in your S6 can help. You might have a Cyber officer or even a cyber specialist who can help you out.

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Feb 4 at 2017 9:47 PM

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 21:47:06 -0500

There is NO privacy on the internet, once it's out there it's fair game.
I think internet footprint should be part of all background checks civilian and government.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 5:42 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:42:50 -0500

It needs to be included. The info would support data that is already collected. Down side is the clearances would cost more and take longer. But hey, it’s a national security issue- so they say.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 6:06 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:06:28 -0500

This is why I make sure I'm extremely careful about what I post. I try to keep my anti-Trump posts... moderately inflammatory.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 28 at 2018 8:21 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:21:10 -0500

Since the kids seem to post everything up to bowel movements on social media, and the fruit cakes announce their insane plans as well- it seems to be a solid idea.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 9:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:15:42 -0500

That a new one for me Sir, that's me being so old now. But in my days, all they did was check if you had a police record, and that I did, still enlisted.