Last Thursday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie approved a new law that prohibits private employers in the Garden State from requiring job applicants to disclose their social media usernames and passwords as a condition of getting a job. The new law carries with it civil penalties of up to $1,000.00 for the first violation and $2,500.00 for all subsequent violations and does not allow applicants to waive the protections afforded them by the legislation.
But, before all you job-seeking N.J. readers out there throw your hands in the air and go buck-wild on Facebook, be careful. The new law does not prevent potential employers from: (1) asking whether you have a social media account; or (2) searching for and viewing anything on your social media pages that is accessible to the public.
So, this new law notwithstanding, it is still a good idea to think before you Tweet. Your new job might still depend on it.
