Background checks are a crucial tool in the hiring process, but they should not include social media checks. These checks can have complicated legal consequences, potentially compromise fair hiring, and introduce bias into the process. Running a social media background check can lead to false identity issues due to fake accounts, inaccurate information spread across the internet, restricted hiring criteria such as protected characteristics like age and disability, and potential liability if using third-party screening services that fail to follow FCRA rules. Additionally, many states have their own hiring laws relating to cyber-vetting, and performing social media background checks can open up organizations to two potential problems: candidates claiming they were influenced by a protected characteristic or contesting the accuracy of the data. Furthermore, running a social media background check is impossible not to be biased in some way, as it's based on publicly available information that can be misinterpreted. Therefore, companies should avoid social media background checks and instead use comprehensive background checks with artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as those offered by Checkr.