JOURNAL ARTICLE

Social media and hiring: a survey experiment on discrimination based on online social class cues.

  • Published In: European Sociological Review, 2024, v. 40, n. 1. P. 116 1 of 3

  • Database: Sociology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Galos, Diana Roxana 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates how social networking platforms, specifically Twitter, may contribute to discrimination based on social class cues in hiring decisions. Using an original online survey experiment in the United States, the study manipulated fictitious candidates' social media profiles to signal either upper- or lower-class cultural consumption while holding resumes constant. Results indicate that candidates with upper-class-signalling profiles are favored over lower-class-signalling ones, with perceived competence and warmth identified as key mechanisms underlying this bias. The findings highlight that social media profiles serve as an additional, informal source of information influencing employability assessments, suggesting that subtle class-based discrimination can occur even when formal qualifications are similar.

Additional Information

  • Source:European Sociological Review. 2024/02, Vol. 40, Issue 1, p116
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Politics and Government
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0266-7215
  • DOI:10.1093/esr/jcad012
  • Accession Number:175496571
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