Employers caution young adults about Facebook postings

Employers warn that young adults should be careful about what they post on Facebook, because more than their friends could be looking at their pages.Adam Sherman, Finance Manager at the Brotherhood Credit Union in Lynn and Marblehead, says though it?s illegal to deny a job to a candidate based on photos on Facebook, nothing stops them from searching the person?s name on Google. Sherman says the first link that shows up on a search engine is usually a person?s Facebook page.?If Facebook does pop up [with] your name, we?ll see what?s there,” said Sherman. “But it?s a quick look. We look to see if there?s anything public that we have to know about before we continue the interviewing process. It?s not just social media, it?s the entire web.”Sherman advises young adults to “clean up” their Facebook pages, taking down photos if necessary.?Get every security feature known to man,” he said. “A picture is worth a thousand words. If someone who is applying for jobs is sort of young and new to the workforce, you might think some of the pictures are harmless ? (But) the person interviewing you might be 61 or 62 and might not understand what?s going on in the pictures.”Sherman warns that?s it not just about the photos, but also about posting status updates.?Some people swear like sailors,” he said. “We?re not looking for that. If you?re going to talk like that about your friends, what might you say about the company or the people at work?”Sherman said it?s important to consider not only what your boss will see but also the customers of the company you represent.?A customer could come into the office and I give them my business card n they have my name and access to my pictures and quotes. Even when you?re not in the business world, you really have to watch what you write,” he said.But area teenagers offered mixed opinions about whether they worry about the information they post online.?I know it?s a possibility, but it?s not the first thing that goes through my mind,” said Jonathan Walker, 18, on Friday at the Square One Mall. “Usually you?re smart enough to not put those photos on Facebook because they?ll get someone in trouble.”Jenna Cetrullo, 18, says she never worries about what she posts on her Facebook page.?I have a lot of bad stuff but I don?t really care,” she said.Even people who are careful with their profile usually have heard stories from friends dealing with the downside of digital media.?My cousin?s friend was a Patriots cheerleader and they kicked her off the team because of her photos on Facebook,” said Samantha Capone, 17.Mary E. Dunn, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Salem State University, said her college doesn?t check Facebook pages while making admission decisions.?It doesn?t mean it doesn?t happen, but I have been in the business for 30 years ? and I have never heard of a college admissions officer using Facebook to look up students,” she said.Dunn did say that while she wouldn?t use Facebook for a college applicant, she would use a search engine to look up job candidates because of the “life differences” between the age groups.Some teens who visited the Square One Mall on Friday said they were worried about what is accessed from their Facebook pages not because of users who can see it, but because they are concerned their images will be taken and used for the website?s own agenda.Lynn City Councilor Brendon Crighton, who?s 28, said Facebook is a useful tool if the user exercises caution.?Facebook, Twitter, and other social media can provide great opportunity for networking and ideas, but both young and old need to know the information can be seen by the whole world,” Crighton said.A Facebook user himself, Crighton said he can?t remember a time when he wasn?t careful about what he posted on his site.?There are family and friends on your site, and you don?t want yourself to be presented in a negative way,” he said.Crighton, who is also the Chief of Staff for state Sen. Sen. Thomas McGee, said he would Go