Before a hiring manager reads your resume or a landlord calls your references, there’s a solid chance they’ve already typed your name into a search bar. That’s completely legal in most states. And yes, what they find can cost you the job or the apartment.
For landlords specifically, most states allow landlords to collect and use a wide range of information when reviewing rental applications — your employment history, income, credit, rental background, and in many states, criminal history. There’s no law in most states stopping them from also running a quick Google search, checking your social media, or looking at anything else that’s publicly visible. If they find something they don’t like, they can typically pass on your application without explaining why.
Employers work similarly. A recruiter can search your name on Google, scroll your public Instagram, find old posts on Reddit, or dig up anything else you’ve left publicly visible online — all before deciding whether to bring you in. In most states, none of that requires your permission, though a handful of states have passed laws limiting how employers can use social media information in hiring decisions. Either way, anything you’ve made publicly visible is fair game in most situations.
So what kinds of things actually get people rejected? Think old posts that look unprofessional or offensive. Photos that contradict the image you’re presenting. Comments made years ago that you forgot about. Stuff you thought was funny at 15 that doesn’t look so great now. It’s not just the dramatic stuff that raises flags — it’s the overall impression.
Here’s the thing people don’t always realize: it’s not just about what’s obviously bad. It’s about what doesn’t match. If your resume says one thing and your online presence says something completely different, that inconsistency alone can be a reason to pass.
The good news is you can actually do something about this. Search your own name right now — in a private/incognito browser so you see what others see. Check what comes up on Google Images. Look at your public social media profiles as if you’re a stranger. Adjust your privacy settings where it makes sense. And think about whether the stuff that IS public represents you the way you actually want to be seen.
You don’t have to scrub your entire personality from the internet. But knowing what’s out there — and making intentional choices about it — is just a smarter way to move through the world.