QUICK HIT: Social Media Privacy Laws for Job Seekers

Consider yourself warned - five states now have new laws in place (that actually start in 2013) which will prevent employers from requiring employees or applicants to reveal or release passwords to their social media profiles.

Employers in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, California and Illinois (a similar Michigan law went into effect in early December 2012) are affected with several states considering similar legislation.

California state Assemblywoman Nora Campos, who authored her state’s bill, told NBC recently that the new law is necessary in order to protect workers. "My legislation protects workers' privacy," Campos said. "The legislation is necessary because there is a hole in existing law that prevents employers from intruding into an employee's legal off-duty conduct."