Majority of employees in the United States don't think so
More than four in 10 employees in the United States believe that having an active social media presence can hurt someone's career, according to a new poll.
Findings released by the American Staffing Association (ASA) found that 44% of working US adults think an active social media presence is not a career asset.
Only 37% said it's an advantage, with younger employees more likely to believe this is the case.
According to the poll, 51% of Gen Zs and 38% of Millennials believe that social media can help their career.
On the other hand, only 34% of Gen X employees and 23% of Baby Boomers agree that social media can help careers. More than four in 10 of Gen Z (42%) and Baby Boomers (48%) said a personal social media presence is more likely to hurt a career.
Use of social media platforms
The findings align with recent polls about how younger workers use social media platforms to look for career advice or find job opportunities.
Findings from EduBirdie last year revealed that 70% of Gen Z Americans are turning to TikTok for career advice. It even helped them increase their salary (25%) and land a job (23%).
These positive results come as 58% of hiring managers in the US express willingness to consider candidates who apply via the company's social media platforms, especially when the hiring manager is a Gen Z.
Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA, said an active social media presence can "make or break years of hard work in the blink of an eye."
"While younger generations may see social media as a platform for personal expression as well as a tool to advance their careers, it's important to keep in mind that any post you make will likely be seen by potential employers," Wahlquist said in a statement.
