Social Media Screening For Safer Hiring Decisions with Ben Mones

A candidate can look perfect on paper and still become the person who damages your culture, erodes trust, or puts your employer brand at risk with a single post.In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham speaks with Ben Mones, founder and CEO of Fama, about how “people risk” has evolved in a world where work and behaviour increasingly play out online.With up to six generations now sharing the workforce and hybrid work pushing more interaction into platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Discord — the line between “online” and “at work” is disappearing. HR leaders must now rethink how they identify, assess, and manage risk in a way that is ethical, compliant, and fair.Ben explains why regulators are starting to treat online behaviour as workplace conduct, how public posts can amplify organisational risk, and what HR teams can do to stay ahead — without turning hiring into surveillance.What You’ll Learn: Why people risk is increasingly visible in digital spaces  How online behaviour can impact culture, trust, and employer brand  The growing role of regulation in workplace conduct beyond the office  Why intent and patterns matter more than one-off mistakes  How to build a meaningful, modern code of conduct  Ethical AI in hiring: moving beyond black-box decision-making  The importance of consent, transparency, and public-only data  Why AI should support — not replace — human hiring decisions  A future-facing take: why employers may soon encourage candidates to use AI Key Takeaway: The risks aren’t new — but where and how they show up has changed. HR leaders who adapt their approach to people risk in digital environments will be better positioned to protect culture, trust, and brand.About the Guest: Ben Mones is the Founder and CEO of Fama, an AI-powered platform that helps organisations identify job-relevant insights from candidates’ public online presence while flagging potential misconduct risks. His work focuses on ethical AI, workplace safety, and the future of hiring.Call to Action: If you care about ethical AI, safer hiring, and protecting workplace culture, follow HRchat, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review to help others discover the show.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here.Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events