Social media has allowed society to share more information than ever before. A fact often forgotten by Internet users is that once an image, Tweet or post is published on a social media site, it forever becomes part of the annals of the web. While many believe that what they do and say on a social media site will not affect their chances of future employment or be grounds for termination, the reality is quite the opposite. A new trend has emerged in employment law where employers make hiring decisions based on what they find in applicants or employees' social media activity. Questions regarding the legality of this practice are broad. While social media can be a powerful tool for recruiting a potential candidate, much of the personal information contained on these websites are protected characteristics under existing laws that protect employees from discrimination. Employers must be careful to balance employee rights with the business needs of a company. The use of social media in employment decisions has emerged as a contemporary issue in employment law for several reasons. The first reason for the development of this trend is the excessive use of social media sites. According to a recent Pew report, 65% of adults who use the Internet have some form of social media presence. (Hidy 70) With this in mind, employers have begun using information found within a social media site to obtain information they otherwise would not get in a resume and interview. These web pages can provide the employer with information about the true nature of a candidate. However, employers must treat information on social media sites with caution as these sites are easily manipulated... middle of paper... e.g., the federal government will need to provide legal guidelines on the extent to which employers workplaces are permitted to use information contained on social media websites. Works Cited Calabrese, Chris. “Password Protection Act of 2012: A Good Start Against Employer Snooping.” May 9, 2012 American Civil Liberties Union. Network. Blog.Hidy, Kathleen McGarvey and Mary Sheila E. McDonald. “Risky Business: The Legal Implications of Social Media’s Growing Role in Employment Decisions.” Journal of Legal Studies in Business18.(2013): 69-107. Business origination completed. Network. December 8, 2013. O'Shea, Kellie A. "Social Media Use in Work: Should I Hire? Should I Fire?" Cornell HR Review(2012): 1-10. Business origination completed. Network. December 8, 2013 Stern, Joanna. “The legislation would make it illegal for employers to ask for passwords.” ABC News. 6.February 2013. Web. 8 December. 2013