Is it weird to look up new coworkers on FB?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the insight, everyone. In this case, it’s a fully remote job, so I don’t live in the same area as the new coworker, nor does the third person we have in common. In remote jobs, it’s nice to find some commonalities that make people seem
more human than just a head on a screen. They actively engage with each other’s content, so more than just casual acquaintances—I just really want to know the back story. I’ll hold off on saying anything, though. At least for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If looking up on FB is weird then looking up on LinkedIn should be weird too. LinkedIn is worse than FB.

IMO, looking up on any social media platforms is not weird.

I think it’s the opposite. LinkedIn is meant for professional networking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody looks everybody up.

No, some of us don't. Really.

+1. I don’t look people up and I don’t even have FB (I am on LinkedIn).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the insight, everyone. In this case, it’s a fully remote job, so I don’t live in the same area as the new coworker, nor does the third person we have in common. In remote jobs, it’s nice to find some commonalities that make people seem
more human than just a head on a screen. They actively engage with each other’s content, so more than just casual acquaintances—I just really want to know the back story. I’ll hold off on saying anything, though. At least for now.

You could do this in a non-weird way you know. Say you were talking with X friend and mentioned your new job at Y company and your friend said they know your boss at the Company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If looking up on FB is weird then looking up on LinkedIn should be weird too. LinkedIn is worse than FB.

IMO, looking up on any social media platforms is not weird.

I think it’s the opposite. LinkedIn is meant for professional networking.

It is but when you know someone's job title/employer, education, etc you kind of know a lot about someone already.
Personally I don't like the idea of someone knowing how much money I make, where I studied, etc so I don't use these platforms.
But I guess if someone volunteers this information to the public, it's fair game.

Those websites that release your address, age, are much, much worse, because it's not like you consent to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Facebook makes “friend suggestions” based on who visits your page. So your boss might be able to deduce that you’ve looked her up because Facebook will likely suggest you as a friend.

Nah, it doesn't.

Friend suggestions come from things like:
Having friends in common
Your networks, such as your current city, school or work
Being in the same Facebook group
Being tagged in the same photo or post
Contacts you uploaded

Run an experiment. Have someone who is not a FB friend spend a few minutes looking at your profile and pictures. Then wait several days and see if they come up as a friend suggestion.

It’s just one factor that determines who shows up. There are many… friends in common, being in the same place(s) at the same time, likes, etc.

So yeah, you may end up in the suggested friends but it’s not going to be obvious that it’s because you looked them up. Plenty of people I look up never show up in mine and many many people who show up in mine, I am sure I haven’t looked up and haven’t looked me up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Facebook makes “friend suggestions” based on who visits your page. So your boss might be able to deduce that you’ve looked her up because Facebook will likely suggest you as a friend.

Nah, it doesn't.

Friend suggestions come from things like:
Having friends in common
Your networks, such as your current city, school or work
Being in the same Facebook group
Being tagged in the same photo or post
Contacts you uploaded

Run an experiment. Have someone who is not a FB friend spend a few minutes looking at your profile and pictures. Then wait several days and see if they come up as a friend suggestion.

It’s just one factor that determines who shows up. There are many… friends in common, being in the same place(s) at the same time, likes, etc.

So yeah, you may end up in the suggested friends but it’s not going to be obvious that it’s because you looked them up. Plenty of people I look up never show up in mine and many many people who show up in mine, I am sure I haven’t looked up and haven’t looked me up.

One big one to add: Especially people who you’ve interacted with on email show up… so when you email vendors, businesses, things for sale, etc if the address you’re emailing is registered to a FB account they show up… this is really common with small business owners.

[Anonymous]

If you have posted it for people to see then it is not weird for people to see it. My sisters hires people and looks up all that kind of thing before an interview. This is one reason I have zero social media accounts. Of course she assures me she would never hire me based on that alone...lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have posted it for people to see then it is not weird for people to see it. My sisters hires people and looks up all that kind of thing before an interview. This is one reason I have zero social media accounts. Of course she assures me she would never hire me based on that alone...lol.

Recruiters choke when they discover I don't use LinkedIn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have posted it for people to see then it is not weird for people to see it. My sisters hires people and looks up all that kind of thing before an interview. This is one reason I have zero social media accounts. Of course she assures me she would never hire me based on that alone...lol.

Recruiters choke when they discover I don't use LinkedIn.

It is a massive red flag you are a fake, have multiple jobs or perhaps a kook.

Look at Barack Obama LinkedIn if you want to keep it simple

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have posted it for people to see then it is not weird for people to see it. My sisters hires people and looks up all that kind of thing before an interview. This is one reason I have zero social media accounts. Of course she assures me she would never hire me based on that alone...lol.

Recruiters choke when they discover I don't use LinkedIn.

It is a massive red flag you are a fake, have multiple jobs or perhaps a kook.

Look at Barack Obama LinkedIn if you want to keep it simple

LinkedIn is pretty artificial in many respects, and there is no verification process, so I guess, yeah.
It probably seems eccentric not to use it but after dealing with a stalker I'd rather protect myself. If that seems bizarre, then I probably don't want to work with you.

[Anonymous]

Actually I only look someone up if I am interested in that person. Yes, if someone searches you, the person will show up in people you may know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Facebook makes “friend suggestions” based on who visits your page. So your boss might be able to deduce that you’ve looked her up because Facebook will likely suggest you as a friend.

But also fb makes friend suggestions based on many other things. So, it would not be unusual for someone to see their new hire pop up.

It's not weird to look people up on Facebook. I would say nothing about the common link you found though.

[Anonymous]

The just-out-of-college members of the team report googling the rest of the team before arriving. It's apparently quite common.
Whether they check FB--I don't know.
It came up once because I mentioned my hobby and new person said "yeah I saw your hobby website but I figured it couldn't possibly be the same person." HAHA.

I don't FB friend my colleagues.

[Anonymous]

Just don't reveal info from FB that you wouldn't know...LinkedIn more acceptable you can follow them as a friendly gesture.