Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 0 I don’t know about you but when it comes to my virtual world a.k.a. Facebook, I don’t add my bosses and I really pick who among my workmates I should add as friends. My virtual world is MY WORLD – one wherein I can be myself and have fun without thinking about whether or not people I work with would approve of it or not. In other words, I don’t want censorship. Not that I post nasty stuff or anything like that, but I want to be myself as much as I can in Facebook or Twitter. My personal virtual world and my virtual office are separate and I think that’s how it should be. Power-Tripping What do I think of employers or universities asking for job seekers’ or students’ passwords to Facebook? They’re power-tripping and taking advantage of their positions, that’s what. Just because employers are at an advantage doesn’t mean they have the right to snoop around, especially if it involves something personal as social media accounts. Yes, they can try and do a name search and check out the stuff applicants are posting on Facebook as public. At least public information is volunteered. But asking for passwords is too much. It’s like being strip-searched because social networking accounts are meant to be private. Maryland and California Say NO It’s a good thing people are fighting back. As a matter of fact, the states of Maryland and California have already passed the social media privacy bill. Last May 2012, Maryland became the first state in the country to sign a bill that bans employers from asking for social networking account passwords from job seekers as an employment condition or requirement. After Maryland came California. As of January 1, 2013, the state of California started implementation of its social media privacy law. California Governor Jerry Brown took it to his Google+ page to make the announcement: “Today I am signing Assembly Bill 1844 and Senate Bill 1349, which prohibit universities and employers from demanding your email and social media passwords. California pioneered the social media revolution. These laws protect Californians from unwarranted invasions of their social media accounts.” Other States Soon to Follow According to National Conference of State Legislatures, the social media privacy legislation has already been introduced and is currently pending in some 29 more states as of 2013. I personally think that this kind of legislation doesn’t need any form of debate. It should be passed and implemented right away to help the millions of unemployed Americans get jobs without having to put their security or privacy at risk. Right to Privacy Should be Priority Privacy should be a priority, especially now that the wide use of smartphones and tablets has even put a greater risk to privacy. To give away passwords is the exact antithesis of privacy protection. It’s like handing over the keys to your own home. I’m no privacy advocate, but I definitely know what my rights are. And if I don’t want give away my password for whatever reason – whether to protect my privacy or fear for my security – then you’re then not going to get it. It’s my right to say no and walk away. Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article was written for Business 2 Community by Nancy Perkins.Learn how to publish your content on B2C Author: Nancy PerkinsNancy is actively writing about business, technology, health, fashion and lifestyle. Her passion for writing has lead her to work with Modernlifeblogs, Ringcentral VOIP Services, and a few known websites in their respected industries.… View full profile ›More by this author:Time Management Tips for Business MomsThings SMEs Need to Think About Before Going GlobalThe Business Plan: The Blueprint for Success