Do you ever do a social media look up for someone you’re bringing into your home, be it a handyman, babysitter, or caregiver for a loved one? No, we don’t mean jumping on Facebook or Instagram and trying to find a person based on limited information, then scrolling through their posts and comments. Sure, that can give you some info, but perhaps not what you need to know.

We’re talking about a legitimate social media background check. Instead of a basic search, this type of check digs deep – way deeper than a fast perusal would – and creates a report based on a number of different flags (things that could be perceived as problematic). These things include:

  • Hate speech
  • Threats of violence
  • Obscene language
  • Drug-related images
  • Political speech
  • Toxic language
  • Sexual impropriety
  • Explicit images
  • Insults and bullying
  • Terrorism/extremism

Yes, it can go back into a person’s social history (on numerous platforms) and find references to any of these, dating back years.

When a Social Media Look Up is Vital

When you’re bringing someone into your home, no matter what for, you need to be able to trust them. If you look at the list above, you can probably understand why you might want to know if someone has a history with any of these types of things. For example, your young neighbour Jane might seem like the perfect babysitter, but if something that could be considered bullying is found on a social media look up, don’t you think you should know? Maybe it’s something harmless, misinterpreted, and then they can explain to you the context, but wouldn’t you rather be able to ask the questions?

In contrast, if you’re looking for a job or a volunteer position that requires a certain level of trust in you, you can get your own social media background check to give to a future employer or volunteer organizer. This shows that you’re aware of the importance of honesty and transparency and that you don’t have anything to hide. This speaks volumes about the type of person you are.

Social media, in many ways, has taken over our lives, but that means we now have access to a lot more information about a person than ever before. If you’re looking to hire someone and need to know more about them than their resume tells you, skip the basic social media look up and get a legitimate social media background check from Triton. Cover all the bases and trust the person you want to let into your home. Visit www.tritoncanada.ca.