Employers Increasingly Monitor Employees' Social Media Behavior

On September 10, 2025, conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated, leading to a significant shift in how employers monitor their employees' social media behavior.

According to a report by Taylor Telford in The Washington Post, employers have become emboldened to discipline or terminate workers over posts related to social or political issues, perceived as reputational risks.

Human resources expert Jim Link noted that the backlash from right-wing groups against individuals who posted negative comments about Kirk has intensified workplace scrutiny of social media activity. Free speech activist Adam Goldstein from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression highlighted that the risks associated with employees expressing non-work-related opinions have escalated.

Following Kirk's death, there were reports of over 600 individuals losing their jobs due to posts about his assassination. Companies like Office Depot and Nasdaq, along with 27 other employers, took action against employees for their social media statements, with many being sanctioned for celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death.

The Center for American Progress reported an increase in unemployment during this time, rising by 0.4 percentage points to 4.4 percent, the highest since September 2021, as employers tighten policies and monitor online behavior more aggressively.