While using social networking sites has many advantages, it can be a setback to your career particularly if you are posting sensitive or scandalous contents.

This is an ongoing debate now in the UK. According to UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), some employers and headhunters might check your online reputation in social network sites like MySpace, Facebook, or Friendster as part of screening process.

On the other hand, UK Children’s Charities Coalition on Internet Safety chairman John Carr believes this could be illegal due to invasion of privacy. Even using search engines like Google and Yahoo! to get personal information is deemed inappropriate.

ICO further argued publicly information online is not a breach of law and it is the responsibility of online users to protect his or her reputation.

Both sides have valid arguments and expect to hear more in the coming days. If you are serious to start a career, it is better to play safe by screening your content thoroughly. It will be hard, if not impossible, to monitor which employer use social networking sites for screening applicants.

Via Monsters and Critics

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