Extent of access to your information
Many people are unaware of just how easily accessible and durable their online information is. Even if using the most stringent privacy settings, information on social networking sites may still be widely available, including to various companies and search engines. And deleting information is not sure-fire protection—it is almost certainly still stored somewhere in cyberspace, and theoretically permanently accessible. If there is something that you really do not want some people to know about you, avoid putting it online at all. It is much harder to prevent other people posting information about you online (e.g. photos, videos). However, you can report inappropriate content to site administrators and request that it be removed.
(See http://www.privacy.gov.au/faq/individuals#social_networking or http://www.netsafe.org.nz/ for more information).
Employee and college trainee background checks
Recruiters are increasingly screening potential employees online. Employer surveys have found that between one-fifth and two-thirds of employers conduct internet searches, including of social networking sites, and that some have turned down applicants as a result of their searches.15,16 In another survey, 21 % of colleges and universities said they looked at the social networking of prospective students, usually for those applying for scholarships and other awards and programs.17
Be conscious of your online image. While employers and colleges you are applying to may find information about you online that could actually prove to be advantageous (eg, professional-looking photos, information on your extracurricular activities such as sports or volunteer work), material that portrays you in an unprofessional or controversial light can be detrimental.
Real-life examples include an employer who turned down an applicant after discovering that he had used Facebook to criticise previous employers and disclosed company information,18 a doctor who missed out on a job because the doctor’s online activities revealed an interest in witchcraft,19 and a female psychiatrist who failed to gain employment after a recruiting agency found explicit pictures on-line of her intoxicated.20
Other issues with employment
Example 5:
Seven doctors and nurses were suspended from Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, UK, after they posted photos of themselves on Facebook ‘planking’ on the hospital premises. The aim of the game is to take photos of yourself lying inert in ridiculous places such as on top of cars, bins, or tables. A hospital manager dobbed in the doctors and nurses after he saw pictures of them on a Facebook site posing on hospital trolleys and ward floors. Hospital management said the staff faced disciplinary action because the hospital set ‘high standards for staff behaviour at all times and therefore takes any such breaches extremely seriously’.21
Employers and colleges may access online material and activities about their current medical staff or trainees, with potentially career-damaging outcomes. An insurance company employee was fired when she was caught on Facebook after calling in ‘sick’, having claimed she could not work in front of a bright computer,22 and a trainee was suspended for making insulting comments about a senior medical colleague on an online forum.23
When using social networking sites, think before making offensive comments or jokes, sharing information about unprofessional activities (eg, involving alcohol or drugs), or joining or creating groups that might be considered derogatory or prejudiced. Although online groups may seem innocuous, other people will not always treat the group with the same humour.
University regulations
Medical students are not held to any lesser standards of professionalism than doctors. They may face disciplinary action from their universities and, in Australia where all medical students are registered with the Medical Board of Australia, from the medical registration authority. In New Zealand, although the medical registration authorities do not have jurisdiction over medical students, they do advise disclosure of any infringements of the law or other misconduct as these may affect eventual medical registration.24
According to a 2009 US study, 60% of responding deans of medical schools reported that medical students had posted unprofessional content online, including violations of patient confidentiality, use of profanity in reference to specific persons or faculties, discriminatory language, depiction of intoxication, sexually suggestive material, and pictures with illicit substance paraphernalia. In many cases, this led to disciplinary action by the universities, including dismissals.25
In other examples, a Twitter comment by an Australian medical student allegedly intended as a joke between friends resulted in an international media storm for referring to US President Barack Obama as a ‘monkey’.26 A student from Ryerson University in Canada was almost expelled for running a Facebook study group where students exchanged thoughts on test questions,27 while a YouTube video of a medical parody caused a great amount of public upset and embarrassment for the students involved and their American university.28
Students are entitled to enjoy an active social life. But remember that online behaviour passed off as ‘youthful exuberance’ at this early stage in your career will still be available later on, and perhaps be seen in a less favourable light. You also need to consider whether your online activities violate university regulations (check with your university whether it has a policy relating to online behaviour), because this could form the basis of disciplinary action.
References
15 Parker, K. Web warning for youths: Employers are watching. Washington: Washington Post Writers Group [internet], March 2007. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/03/peekaboo. html (accessed June 2010).
16 Paton, N. Cyber-vetting managers face backlash. Management Issues [internet]. 18 Oct 2007 [cited June 2010]. http://www.management-issues.com/2007/10/18/research/cyber-vetting- managers-face-backlash.asp
17 Greenwood, B. Facebook: the next great vetting tool? Information Today, Inc. [internet]. 2009; 26(8) (cited June 2010). http://www.infotoday.com/it/sep09/Greenwood.shtml
18 Foster P. Caught on camera – and found on Facebook. The Times [internet]. Jul 17 2007 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2087306.ece [accessed June 2010).
19 Dolan LP. Social networking etiquette: Making virtual acquaintances. American Medical News [internet]. Jun 2 2008. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/06/02/bisa0602.htm (accessed June 2010).
20 Du W. Job candidates getting tripped up by Facebook. MSNBC [internet]. Aug 14 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20202935 (accessed June 2010).
21 Lakeman G. NHS doctors and nurses could be fired for playing Facebook Lying Down Game. Mirror [internet]. Sep 10 2009. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/10/a-lying- shame-115875-21661732/ (accessed June 2010).
22 Crowe A. Defriended! Woman fired for surfing Facebook after calling in sick. WalletPop [internet]. Apr 27 2009. http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/04/27/defriended-woman-fired-for- surfing-facebook-after-calling-in-si/ (accessed June 2010).
23 Praitis N. Row after deanery suspends trainee over Doctors.net comments. Pulse [internet]. Aug 11 2008. http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4120357 (accessed 2010).
24 Medical Council of New Zealand. Fitness for registration as a medical practitioner. Wellington: Medical Council of New Zealand. http://www.mcnz.org.nz/Education/ Fitnessforregistrationasamedicalpractitioner/tabid/181/Default.aspx (accessed June 2010).
25 Chretien KC. Greysen SR. Chretien JP. Kind T. Online posting of unprofessional content by medical students. JAMA. 2009;302(12):1309-15.
26 Pollard E. Young Lib expelled over Obama monkey slur. ABC News. [internet]. Apr 16 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/16/2875124.htm?section=justin (accessed June 2010).
27 Brown L. Student faces Facebook consequences. The Star [internet]. Mar 6 2008. www. thestar.com/news/gta/article/309855 (accessed June 2010).
28 Farnan JM, Paro JA, Higa J et al. The YouTube generation: implications for medical professionalism. Perspectives in Biology & Medicine. 2008;51(4):517-24.
