When it comes to job hunting, candidates no longer have to worry simply about their CV, interview skills and aptitude for psychometric tests, they also need to think about that drunken photograph or snide comment they put up on Facebook six months ago. However, there is a flip side to this which employers don’t seem to be aware of: they may be flouting the law.

These are the key findings from a study that Chartered Psychologist Rob Bailey, from OPP, will be presenting to delegates at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Occupational Psychology Conference at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Chester, on Thursday 12 January 2012.

The study concludes that companies who use social networking sites (SNS) to vet potential new employees are at risk of falling foul of employment and data protection laws.

SNS screening has the potential to result in a charge of discrimination. How? [continue reading…]

Psychologists explore myths, realities and offer guidance for parents

Social media present risks and benefits to children but parents who try to secretly monitor their kids’ activities online are wasting their time, according to a presentation at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

“While nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the landscape of social interaction, particularly among young people, we are just now starting to see solid psychological research demonstrating both the positives and the negatives,” said Larry D. Rosen, PhD, professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

In a plenary talk entitled, “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids,” Rosen discussed potential adverse effects, including:

• Teens who use Facebook more often show more narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania and aggressive tendencies.

• Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders, as well as by making them more susceptible to future health problems.
  • Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning. Studies found that middle school, high school and college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period achieved lower grades.

Rosen said new research has also found positive influences linked to social networking, including:

• Young adults who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing “virtual empathy” to their online friends.
• Online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn how to socialize behind the safety of various screens, ranging from a two-inch smartphone to a 17-inch laptop.
• Social networking can provide tools for teaching in compelling ways that engage young students.

For parents, Rosen offered guidance. “If you feel that you have to use some sort of computer program to surreptitiously monitor your child’s social networking, you are wasting your time. Your child will find a workaround in a matter of minutes,” he said. “You have to start talking about appropriate technology use early and often and build trust, so that when there is a problem, whether it is being bullied or seeing a disturbing image, your child will talk to you about it.”

He encouraged parents to assess their child’s activities on social networking sites, and discuss removing inappropriate content or connections to people who appear problematic. Parents also need to pay attention to the online trends and the latest technologies, websites and applications children are using, he said.

“Communication is the crux of parenting. You need to talk to your kids, or rather, listen to them,” Rosen said. “The ratio of parent listen to parent talk should be at least five-to-one. Talk one minute and listen for five.”

Source:   American Psychological Association “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids” Larry D. Rosen, PhD, California State University, Dominguez Hills

Recent guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that pediatricians ask school-age children and adolescents whether or not they are on Facebook, and use it as a transition to discussing the impact of social media on a child’s development.

At the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, these types of questions have been incorporated into all physical and behavioral health clinical exams.

“Social media is an important issue and it is not a fad; it is here to stay,” said Marlene Huff, Kentucky Children’s Hospital child and adolescent behavioral health therapist and associate director of the Division of Adolescent Medicine. “In regular exams we ask children what their username and password is for their social media accounts, if they tell the truth about their age, if their parents are part of their ‘friends’ network, who their ‘friends’ are and if they are their age, and what they use the social networking sites for.”

Huff highlights the importance of knowing how your child communicates with their friends outside of school, and suggests that parents limit the amount of time spent on technology such as video games, cell phones, computers and television. [continue reading…]