Skip to main content

Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)

Social Media and ADA

Reference Number: MTAS-1068
Reviewed Date: 10/21/2022

Employers are increasingly using social media as a way to screen and learn more information about potential job candidates. Absent a social media hiring policy and a qualified screener, this is problematic because the employer may view protected information such as what disabilities individuals or their family members may have. Once the employer sees this information there is no way to undo this. This information is protected, and not job related, it is information that should not be used during the application process. If an adverse employment decision is made, individuals may claim it was due to the employer seeing their disability status. Having a qualified third party, or a non-hiring authority screen social media avenues would prevent this protected information from being passed on to hiring authorities or to those in decision making positions and greatly reduce the employers liability.