Are employers allowed to ask for your facebook password?

[Lacey]

With unemployment being as high as it is and the huge amounts of applications/resumes received, companies found ways to weed out "undesirables". One way to to have you submit to a credit check (bad credit, in an employer's mind, means high-risk for theft). Another way is to ask for social media passwords (not only for Facebook).

Now, you don't have to give this information, but then, you will risk not getting the job. You could have 2 accounts, one under a nickname for friends and family and another under your full name for professional contacts, but, if you are caught in the lie, you can be terminated on the spot. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking that your co-workers are your friends. The more information you give them, the more they will have to use against you if a promotion is between you and someone else.

This is an unfortunate situation and IMO a breach of privacy, but that's the way it is. You could try deleting any posts that could be embarrassing or that could make an employer feel that you are unreliable, but there's no guarantee that these posts can't be found in other places on the Internet. This is why it's not a good idea to post too much information.