***ClickSearch is NOT a phone spying service. Users will never have the ability to surreptitiously track, monitor, or spy on someone’s phone. ClickSearch cannot be used to stalk, secretly track, or monitor someone’s cell phone without them knowing.***
The social media background check has become widespread, being adopted by more and more employers and entrepreneurs across the globe. After all, almost anyone – especially young professionals – seems to be more active in social media than in real life. They tend to proactively disclose information about their personal interests, daily routines, usual activities, and more.
And since there are several reliable cloud-based platforms where users can run such searches, it has become a popular strategy for verifying one’s true identity and intentions.
What is a Social Media Background Check?
In a nutshell, a social media background check is the process of acquiring relevant valuable data associated with a specific social account or profile. It works similarly to criminal background checks but instead of criminal records, processors look into the digital footprints on a person’s social networking platforms.
Typically, this involves searching widely used or popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and other online profiles to create a better and bigger picture of a specific person.
Since almost everyone nowadays owns and uses at least one social media profile, these modern platforms could be a great venue to hunt for valuable information. This is why several business owners and hiring managers have already adopted and incorporated social media-based approaches and strategies. This includes employee screening and selection through social media.
Who Benefits from Social Media Background Check Reports?
Basically, anyone can request or initiate social media background checks. However, these are who can benefit the most.
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Business Owners or Hiring Managers
Social media posts often reflect the users’ personalities. In most cases, you can make a good sense of someone’s professional etiquette with how they act on social sites.
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Property or Equipment Lessors
Lending your assets could be risky, especially if it’s your first time transacting with the lessee. One way of securing your properties is to run background checks on social media.
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Parents of Minor Kids
Kids nowadays spend more time on social sites, meeting new friends online. You can closely monitor their activities and engagements by checking out who they interact with.
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Users of Online Dating Sites
Not everyone you meet is exactly who they say they are. This is especially true with the people you meet on dating sites. You can double-check their social accounts to be safe.
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Sellers/Buyers who Transact Online
Most scammers target web-based selling/buying, taking advantage of the high demand on online marketplaces mainly caused by convenience and efficiency.
How to Do a Social Media Background Check on Yourself or on Someone?
There could be varying reasons why one would want or need to run a social media background check. The good thing is that there are also several platforms and tools available. Here are some ways of acquiring extensive and comprehensive background check reports.
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Manual Checking
Using your own or someone else’s account, you can check out a person’s social media account. Unless their accounts are set to private or certain restrictions are enabled, you should be able to see their timeline posts, public comments, friends list, pages followed, and so much more.
You can also check other open-source browsers or directories like Google Chrome to access web pages that could lead you to relevant social networking platforms.
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Background Check Agency
You can reach out to government agencies that run standard and criminal background checks such as the Department of Justice or the State Police. Most of these government bodies now have web-based offices, making it easier for residents and non-residents to file requests, complaints, or reports.
Background checks now usually include checking online accounts like email and social profiles. Just be sure to specify you need such details.
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Private Investigator
If all else fails, you can also hire private investigators. These experts are well-trained in digging deep into all available and possible sources of valuable information. This includes social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and more.
Their professional fees are quite expensive, but if you’re looking for a hassle-free data acquisition, this is one of your best options.
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People Search Engines
Another great way of collating social media profile information is through the use of ClickSearch, a reliable people and phone search engine. These tech-advanced platform allow you an efficient and streamlined acquisition of valuable data, including personal information, public records, and associated social media accounts.
ClickSearch collates information from credible and official sources only so you can rest assured that the generated reports are extensive and up-to-date.
Pros and Cons of Social Media Background Checks
Social media has recently become a go-to background check tool. It doesn’t mean, however, that it’s a strategy applicable to all business niches or individual users.
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Social Background Check Advantages
Background checking on social media profiles could be an honest and harmless means of getting to know more about your job candidates. You can see on these sites information that’s usually not included on resumes or CVs – details that better showcase their personalities and characteristics.
In most cases, social media posts are reflective of a person’s true demeanor and character. For instance, candidates who post negative stuff about the company, badmouth their colleagues or share unprofessional photos are more likely to cause issues or violate company rules.
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Social Background Check Disadvantages
On the other hand, social media causes false positives or false negatives. Not everything you see on such platforms is real or raw. This is why social media is known as a den of fake news and malicious content.
Plus, it could easily lead to discrimination. After all, social media users usually post content that’s meant for fun or entertainment and not for the eyes of an employer or manager. Details on social profiles like gender identification, political affiliation, and personal preferences could easily trigger biased decisions.
Conclusion
Whether you’ll be using paid or free social media background checkers, and for whatever reasons or purposes you have, bear in mind that networking and verification through social media is one thing while snooping and stalking is another.
Tiffany is a lead writer who has a passion for all of the latest use of technology. Tiffany has been writing and delivering the latest app reviews and news for ClickSearch. She is an unbelievable author and continues to produce must-read content.
