31/08/2026
'Social media checks' and 'adverse media checks' often get used like they mean the same thing. They don't.
A social media check looks at a candidate's public posts, activity and behaviour across platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X. It builds a picture of professionalism, conduct and cultural fit.
An adverse media check scans global news sources and publicly available information for negative coverage, such as fraud, regulatory action or criminal matters.
Both matter. Together, they give you a fuller picture before you make a hire, not just what a candidate says about themselves, but what is publicly known about them.
Know the difference, use both where it counts.