New State Law Prevents Employers From 'Snooping' On Employees' Facebook

If you don't want your boss checking on your social media activity you're now protected under Oklahoma law.

A new state law means employees don't have to disclose their social media accounts to their employers, unless you're using the accounts on company devices.

One job recruiter said anyone with a public and person Facebook page should separate them.

The new law says employers cannot force employees to disclose their social media accounts.

"There's a personal life and there's a professional life, and there's a way to separate those two," said Carey Baker, founder and CEO of ProRecruiters.

ProRecruiters is a Tulsa business that recruits and hires for companies.

Baker looks at hundreds of resumes and even more social media pages.

"I want to see that someone has a social media presence," she said.

Baker said the number one thing she's looking for is whether your personal page is private.

"They have their privacy settings set in a way that I can't see anything that they put out on Facebook, or Twitter, then, to me, that's being smart," said Baker.

She doesn't care what you're posting on your personal page as long as you keep it personal.

House Bill 2372

Baker said employers shouldn't care either, unless it's affecting your work.

She said employers definitely shouldn't force their way into your personal accounts.

"Giving personal access to a company, that's just, that's a little too far. Way too far," said employee Nick Richards.

Others, like Ronald Sampson, don't mind, and even think the transparency would work to their advantage.

"I think I would be more successful getting a job because my employers would know all the good things and the bad things that I've done,” Sampson said.

The law bans employers from asking for an employee's username or password.

Employers could be fined $500 for each violation.