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Facebook, Amazon, and Hundreds of Companies Post Targeted Job Ads That Screen Out Older Workers (vox.com)

Posted by msmash on from the older-people-need-not-apply dept.

Older workers are accusing Facebook, Ikea, and hundreds of other companies for discriminating against job seekers in their 50s and 60s through targeted job ads posted on Facebook. From a report: The Communications Workers of America, a labor union representing 700,000 media workers across the country, added the companies to a class-action lawsuit on Tuesday, which was filed in California federal court in December. In its original complaint, the labor union accused Amazon, T-Mobile, and Cox Media Group of doing the same thing. The case, Bradley v. T-Mobile, has major implications for US employers, who routinely buy job ads on Facebook to reach users. The plaintiffs argue that Amazon, T-Mobile, Ikea, Facebook, and hundreds of other companies target the ads so they are only seen by younger Facebook users.

The lawsuit revolves around Facebook's unique business model, which lets advertisers micro-target the network's users based on their interests, city, age, and other demographic information. In the past, equal rights advocates have sued Facebook for accepting ads that discriminate against consumers based on their religion, race, and gender. Facebook has argued that the company is not legally responsible when other companies buy ads that violate the law.

7 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. First question.. by fluffernutter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The first question that comes to my mind is, why would ANYONE be honest when entering their information into Facebook?

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re:First question.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I signed up on Facebook to stay connected with my relatives and reconnect with old friends I hadn't seen in a while. A few of the old friends I looked up, I couldn't find--so I figured we'd connect later when they created accounts. I assumed their finding me would be eased by my posting my correct info.

      I read a lot of stuff on Slashdot about how bad it is that Facebook knows everything about us, but y'all haven't successfully articulated just what I should fear.
      What are the potential negative consequences if Facebook knows my real name and where and when I went to high school?

      The story we're commenting on is about the terrible possibility that I might not see certain ads on Facebook. That's a risk I'm willing to take.

    2. Re:First question.. by SantiagoMcRib · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I have heard that in the US, there are workplaces that wlll not hire you if you don't have an active facebook.

      No employer in America would decide against hiring you because you don't have an active facebook account.

      However, you might not be the "right fit" for the company.

  2. Your resume should look young... by The+Fat+Bastard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    After I went back to school to get another degree ten years ago, I dropped my first degree from my resume. Most recruiters look for three years in each of the last three positions, so I list my experience from the last ten years. Since I get hired over the phone, most hiring managers are shocked to see that my beard is snow white. Never mind that the color of my beard is irrelevant to the job.

    1. Re:Your resume should look young... by ranton · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I expect that this comment is going to end up at "-1 Troll" like many of the other times I've talked about my experienced with older workers, because apparently when you're still (barely) in your 20s you can't talk about these kinds things.

      You can certainly talk about these kinds of things, but you also need to accept that it will be hard to be taken seriously. It is like a man talking about how painful child birth is. Or a parent with one child who thinks their parenting experience would fully prepare them for their second child. (you're probably too young to understand how wrong that one is)

      If you are barely in your 20's, you are probably just out of college. Or started your career without college. Heaven forbid you are still in college (you are simply a moron if you think you have insight into this if you haven't been in the industry yet). Your insight seems like it comes from someone who has only been working for a few years, and has only worked closely with perhaps a dozen or so colleagues. In truth your comments seem driven by blog posts you have read and not real experience.

      I am in my late 30's, and of course I have dealt with older coworkers who have no business still being in the industry. But I have also dealt with far more younger coworkers who have literally no idea what they are doing. The most common issue with younger developers that I see (including myself with only 15 years of experience) is they just don't know what they don't know. They cannot identify the difference between maintainable code and unmaintainable code. They can certainly identify the unmaintainable code, but mistakenly think their code is better just because it makes more sense to them. Or because it hasn't yet went through 10 years of updates and modifications. Just wait. Everyone thinks their shiny new system is incredibly extensible.

      That is of course not fair to all young workers. One simple way to identify a truly competent young worker is that they are fully aware how inexperienced they are, and rarely assume they know very much. A 25 year old who brags about their easily maintainable and extensible code will get more pity from me than admiration, because he is almost certainly wrong (the ones who are good enough also rarely brag about it). I am fairly new to management, and I believe the primary thing which helped in the transition is I didn't assume I would be naturally good at it just because I have watched other people do it or read a bunch of books.

      You may not be a troll, but you certainly have a lot to learn.

      --
      -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
  3. It's time for better older worker protection... by TigerPlish · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Older workers need better job protection -- Too easy / tempting to let them go, chances of getting hired at a similar pay rate as the lost job are slim, and contrary to what people think, the days of fat retirements are long gone. Older workers are at great risk. Greater than other classes, I would say.

    But of course, the public at large don't see it like that, the politicians can't be bothered to care, and companies only care about moneymoneymoney.

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
  4. Target Ads by tempmpi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have nothing against targeted ads, but advertiser should be forced to reveal their target to the receiver of the ad. I think this would stop most of the abuse and would easy way to regulate this.

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    Jan