In a survey, 44% of U.S. workers said an active social media presence could more likely hurt someone’s career than help it, according to a July 17 report from the American Staffing Association.
In contrast, 37% said an active social media presence is more likely to be advantageous to someone’s career, the survey found.
“An active social media presence has the ability to make or break years of hard work in the blink of an eye,” Richard Wahlquist, CEO at ASA, said in a news release.
“While younger generations may see social media as a platform for personal expression as well as a tool to advance their careers, it’s important to keep in mind that any post you make will likely be seen by potential employers,” he added.
In the survey of more than 2,000 Americans, attitudes differed somewhat by generation. While 48% of employed baby boomers said a social media presence can negatively affect someone’s career, 51% of Generation Z workers said it can positively influence it.
In addition, 56% of Gen Z workers said they believe their social media presence has helped their own personal career, as compared to 44% of millennials, 28% of Gen X and 20% of baby boomers.
In some contexts, personal social media use can lead to significant workplace concerns and conflicts. For instance, an Israeli former vice president of engineering in August 2024 brought an unlawful termination and retaliation lawsuit against Intel, which referenced a supervisor’s social media posts in support of Hamas. He agreed to dismiss the lawsuit earlier this year.
In another lawsuit, an actor fired from “The Mandalorian” series has alleged wrongful termination and discrimination due to her conservative posts on social media. Although she cited a California labor code that protects workers’ rights to be politically active, the case could hinge on nuances around free speech and workers’ political rights, law experts told HR Dive.
