Online chat ‘could stop you getting a job’

Wednesday 25th June 2008, 2:57PM BST.

PEOPLE are being warned no to put too much personal information on social networking sites such as Facebook because it could stop them getting a job.

Employers are checking social websites to see if potential employees have their details online before recruiting them.

Emma Martins, the data protection commissioner, has warned that she has very real concerns about the unprecedented increase in the amount of personal data being placed in the public arena on social websites and chat rooms.

Mrs Martins said that she was also worried that children as young as 11 years old were putting information on social networking sites. ‘It is really important that individuals using these sites know what they are doing,’ she said. ‘People are putting really personal stuff on and it is very dangerous.

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