This has nothing to do with religious views. No one will deny you a job because you're an atheist. They'll deny you a job if you're an idiot. Atheists are like vegans. There's those who don't believe in God, and those who don't believe in God and make it their personal mission to let everyone know how stupid they are id they do. I'm sure you know the euphoric, edgy kind I'm speaking of.

Like neo said, it's basic screening. There's a huge difference between the atheist that shares documentaries and relevant scientific information that he finds intriguing and that might also help educate people, and the one who shares shit like "OMG AHAHA CHRISTIANS ARE SO RETARDED LOL THEY BELIEVE IN IMAGINARY FRIEND IN SKY" ones.

In any business, the most important skill is your capability of handling and interacting with people. The second most important is you aptitude in that specific trade.

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I post the odd joke that would offend religious people, just like I'd post the odd joke that'd offend the odd short person, tall person, woman or anything else that I find funny. I also post things that shock me about religion.

It's not about me though, my biggest concern is that these poor 16 year olds are the first generation in a long time who aren't allowed to fully be themselves

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I grew out of the dumb shit I used to say on here. Most of my posts don't represent who I am today at all.

Lol that last paragraph made me laugh for some reason. Posting your opinion on Facebook is not fully being yourself. Gasp.. Maybe some of those 16 year Olds will actually have to meet in person and discuss these opinions or actually work to get something changed instead of posting some thought on Twitter. They can still meet. They can still protest. They can still debate in person.

I didn't say it's the ONLY way to be yourself though, did I?

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I grew out of the dumb shit I used to say on here. Most of my posts don't represent who I am today at all.

How are they the first generation not able to fully be themselves? They have a new thing ie social media that they have to watch what they say. But the prior generations didn't even have social media. So the new generation is not impaired in comparison to yhe prior generation because they still have something to somewhat express themselves that the prior didn't. You gotta admit that doesn't make sense when you say they have something that the prior generations didn't even have. If you are comparing this gen to previous gens and saying they are less able to do something.. Something must have been taken away that they had before. They didn't have social media before. So even if they can't say everything they want to on social media they are at least capable just as the prior gens.

Social media existed when I was 16. Granted it was Faceparty and Piczo, then Bebo when I was about 18.. but it still existed. You could say what you wanted back then, because old stuck up farts who care what you write online, they didn't use it.

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I grew out of the dumb shit I used to say on here. Most of my posts don't represent who I am today at all.

If you're anti religious, I hope you can agree to the logic that I'm saying. There are at most 2 generations alive right now that have grown up somewhat with social media. So right there, you cant say that anything is different for a long time from a generation standpoint because its only been 2. My parents didnt have social media. So even if I cant post what I want on facebook, I can still express myself as much as they did, the same ways they had to express themselves. I cant say that I'm in worse place expressionwise than my parents.

The problem with seeing it as old farts minding your business is its a childish mentality. An interview costs money and resources. Recruiting costs money and resources. When a company sees you post a joke that could offend people, there is the possibility that you could make one of those jokes at work and offend someone. Sure, that may not be the case, but they just dont have the time and money to risk figuring it out. Its up to you to present yourself in the best way possible, not for them to waste money reading through the context of what you write.

You can still express yourself today. If you want to post hateful, racist, homophobic, sexist things, there are many communities you can join and share your thoughts. If you want to share them with people you know, why not just share them at the party with your friends? Social media doesnt enable people to express themselves, it allows people to say shit that could offend that they won't say to someone in person. Maybe having employers check social media will actually make those 16 year olds meet up and discuss their anti religious views, instead of tweet Carl Sagan quotes. Maybe it will actually make them be...social. Simply making your fb private can stop alot of employer checks. But you can't have it both ways. You can't say that social media allows you to express yourself, but it won't provide any relevant information to an employer. If what you post on fb is a reflection of your personality,(and as RC said, for many jobs personality and how you interact with people are a huge part), then employers should check it. Especially when its their money thats being used for the recruitment process.

I can assure you the screening my company does (and I do) has nothing to do with your religious or political views unless they fall into the "extremist" category.

We are literally looking for stupid.

If you post about racism, sexism, controversial topics, etc, then yeah - the company has a right to protect itself from exposure...

And you have the option not to work for that company.