Nannies, Babysitters & Facebook: Do you look?
Recently, I was talking about Facebook and MySpace with my older son, Ryan,
and my nieces, and they expressed—in particular—how much they dislike adults (like their parents!) hanging out online in the same places they and their friends do.
I asked them how they'd feel if future employers were also viewing their Facebook or MySpace profiles,
which made them even more uncomfortable. They still feel their personal lives are private. Even on the internet. And then I realized that many of these teens and twentysomethings are also candidates for babysitting and nanny jobs.
Would you research your caregiver online? Would you view their MySpace profile, become their Facebook friend, or read their blog?
Several newspapers have written about this trend since social media outlets like blogs and MySpace entered the online scene around 2005.
Here are two that I really liked:
The New Nanny Diaries Are Online
By Helaine Olen for The New York Times' "Modern Love" column
This column follows the story of one mom who chose to begin reading her nanny's blog, and the ensuing drama and difficult choices that followed.
Finding Babysitters, from Craig's List to MySpace
By Heather Pemberton Levy, founder and editor of the blog MommyTruths
This blog post retells the story of how one mom found out through a sitter's MySpace profile that she definitely was not the right fit for her family.
Have you read your nanny's blog, or viewed your babysitter's Facebook or MySpace profile? Would you ever ask them to connect online as a "friend"? What did you think the article from the New York Times?
Share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the Care.com community by posting a comment!
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Before I hired or employed anyone, I would like to know as much as possible about that person.
Posted by: Gary | August 05, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Of course i would try to look up their myspace page or facebook...i want to know what type of person is watching my kid, people can come off as something they are not.
Posted by: eric porter | August 05, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Yes, i would like to be friends with someone on myspace. That would help me out alot. That is a good idea.
Posted by: tanja | August 05, 2008 at 09:14 AM
I definitely understand the point of the candidate... But what you do and say in your "private life" has a reflection on you. If that is the case.. keep it private.
Posted by: tracie | August 05, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Viewing your caregivers' profile should be a must. We had a sitter for a short 2 months and something just didn't seem right. About a month after she left, my husband was checking Facebook and came across her profile. Had we of looked at her profile first we would not of hired her. She did not share the same values as we did. Her resume she provided us must of been "doctored" up, since from her Facebook page we knew some of the information could not have been true. (Or at least not presently). Please do all your research first before hiring. I was lucky and my husband did work from home and he could check up on the kids when he felt necessary. Not all people are so lucky!
Posted by: Denise | August 05, 2008 at 09:16 AM
This is VERY important to do. While it is personal, it can be set to private which can be better than public. Some caregivers under the age of 21 are posting pictures of them drinking alcohol. I have found that several nannies and sitters are posting pictures of the kids in their care on those sites and sometimes on blogs. Which can seem flattering at first, but it could also be a safety concern. So, I feel it is important to check up on anyone you are trusting with your child.
Posted by: Rebecca A. | August 05, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Yes absolutely, It is the easiest and less expensive way to find out who they associate with and how they are as a person. I did use MySpace when I ran into a road block, just before I found this website. My children are worth the time and effort.
Posted by: Michele | August 05, 2008 at 09:22 AM
I actually posted on Craigslist and MySpace and had quite a few reputable inquires.
Posted by: Kristin Staggs | August 05, 2008 at 09:23 AM
It is a parent's responsibility to find out as much as they can about a potential babysitter -- this includes researching Facebook and MySpace.
Posted by: Linda | August 05, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I would have no problem finding a babysitter online. I would do background investigation and check references before hiring anyone.
Posted by: Linda | August 05, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Yes, If I was given a name from Care.Com I would go and research their profiles on my space, etc.
Posted by: Chris | August 05, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I absolutely would look. In years past, it was easy to find them. Now, it seems like they're wising up and making their profiles private, which lends itself to the next question: Would you create a bogus user ID to delve further and actually try and "friend" people so you CAN see their profiles?
Posted by: Fran | August 05, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Good post and question. My answer is yes. I believe that caregivers or babysitters should expect for anything that is posted online to be something that the public can view - including potential clients. I think that many people today don't realize the impact that the information they post can have beyond their friends - and the fact that something you post today will be around for years to come. I think that it is important for people to be mindful of what they post and to ask themselves, "am I OK with anyone - my parents, bosses, clients, etc." seeing it? If the answer is yes, then post. If the answer is no, then they should think about it or just be prepared for all outcomes.
Posted by: Stephanie | August 05, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I definately check out Facebook and MySpace pages before interviewing a candidate. It tells a lot about a person's judgement and character as to what they put on their personal pages. Those pages can be kept private and in that case...they could put whatever they wanted on them.
Posted by: Alicia | August 05, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Absolutely! What better way to see what your potential care givers personality is like. I have turned down people I have interviewed because of what I've seen on their My Space or Facebook pages.
Posted by: Lisa | August 05, 2008 at 09:52 AM
All those websites are turning in to sex for sale or for fun. I don't think this is a wise idea. If you are on your way to losing clients, and are inviting spam go ahead. I as a business owner would not look at all at myspace to evaluate any employee.
Posted by: Parvez | August 05, 2008 at 10:01 AM
DEFINATELY A MUST TO CHECK OUT ANY CAREGIVER, BE IT FOR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, OR YOUR PET. IT'S OBVIOUSLY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WITH SMALL CHILDREN, AND PETS, AND THE ELDERLY, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ALWAYS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I ALSO SUGGEST WHEN THINKING OF A FUTURE CAREGIVER, LEARN ABOUT HOW OUR TAX SYSTEM WORKS WHEN YOUR PAYING YOUR CAREGIVER.
MANY OF THE CAREGIVERS ARE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, SO IT MUST BE DONE LEGALLY, OR YOU CAN GET YOURSELF INTO TROUBLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
Posted by: LINDA | August 05, 2008 at 10:30 AM
yes,i would,b/c you learn something about them that you may not learn in their interview with you.if they smoke or what kind of people they associate with.their private life style that may be carried over into your home and around your children. so yes.
Posted by: yolanda | August 05, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Well to be honest, I don't think that most teenagers are responsible enough to watch children. If I did choose to hire a (what seemed to be responsible) 17 or 18 year old teenager to watch my child, I would absolutely research his/her myspace and facebook pages. That is the best way to get an uncensored view of the candidate. And as a manager, I would research potential interns and hires as well.
Posted by: Magnificent Stokes | August 05, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I think that checking out the people on myspace/facebook is a good idea. My teens 17 & 16 like it as well that myself & their dad our their friends. It gives another way of communicating with your kids and their friends. It is always good to know about the people you are dealing with. Especially when it is someone that is potentially going to watch your children. I also have 2 yr old twins and it is essential that you know all you can about a person before leaving them alone with your children.
Posted by: Nichole | August 05, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Now that you mention it I surely will view prospective nanny's web pages. I have a teen, and she and her friends know that I have my child's passwords and visit their pages. They don't love it but if they have nothing to hide then it isn't a big deal. I have been able to identify the children with whom my child should have little association based on their pages. I have been pretty accurate on who are good kids and who aren't based on their layouts and associations with others. If it's out there it is public domain.
Posted by: robin | August 05, 2008 at 11:41 AM
What a great idea! I will start checking facebook and myspace when we need help of different helpers, gardeners and pet care givers.
Posted by: Katze | August 05, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I would and I do. I'm an investigator so before I hire a caregiver all background checks are done though me which includes a skiptrace, facebook/myspace/online search. The caregiver needs to understand that they are watching a family member and anyone would do the same, some of us have more access than others, but the main info found on individuals is usually public info that anyone can access.
Posted by: Dean | August 05, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I know that for me, after we found a fantastic sitter through Care.com, I learned she had a Facebook account and "friended" her. She had to move and I've been able to send her pics of our girls. I also learned a lot more about her. I think Facebook can be a great tool.
Posted by: Ruth | August 05, 2008 at 12:36 PM
I don't see a problem with people who are looking for baby sitters online being friends with their baby sitters, i mean, people post EVERYTHING on there, its the best way to find out if theres anything to be concerned about.
I'm friends with a lot of teachers and other people i've baby sat for, they send me pictures of their children (I moved recently to Ohio from California)
I think the same goes for Facebook too.
Posted by: Becca | August 05, 2008 at 12:45 PM