Over the years, social media has become a dominant factor in our lives. We can't go anywhere without our smartphones or tablets, and being “in the know” has become a necessity. Because so much of our lives are advertised on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and YouTube, laws have had to be put in place to protect our privacy. Not only are employers using these outlets as hiring tools, but they are also using them as marketing tools. These sites have led to new job opportunities specifically targeting marketing in social media networks, as well as the ability for employers to spy on their employees. I would like to discuss the laws put in place to protect our privacy, the reality that employers look at our social media sites, and how companies are able to use them as outlets to market their products. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 26 states have introduced or are pending laws to protect employees from the invasion of their personal lives by their employers. Some employers said it was important to have access to their social media sites to ensure they were not sharing secrets or giving away confidential company information. “Some states have similar legislation to protect students at public colleges and universities from having to grant access to their social networking accounts,” (“Employer Access to,” 2014). These websites almost trick us into providing personal information that we might think is harmless, but in the wrong hands could be potentially dangerous. It might be appropriate for us to wear a bikini in St. Lucia on our cruise, but how appropriate is it for everyone at work to see it? In the United States we believe it is completely normal to share all this information and content... in the middle of paper... and whether employers should be allowed access. Because these sites are constantly updated and changed, it's difficult to keep track of what we can and can't do. Several states are putting laws in place to keep people's online lives private, but I think it will be a constant battle. An employer can “stumble upon” a candidate's page as easily as a mother or father can check on their children. I believe that if someone feels comfortable enough to publish every detail of their life publicly, they are responsible for the consequences that arise. Businesses have started using social media to their advantage. You can “follow” every celebrity, organization, and restaurant chain on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the list goes on. This is a great way to reach new and existing customers. Since this has become such an outlet, jobs have opened up specifically for this position.