Jobs in this economy are hard to come by, especially for young people and graduates. This makes the Paris Brown debacle all the more relevant in that, despite whatever controversy continues to rage, one more young person has failed or been failed by the recruiting process.

Surveys have found anywhere between a third and 70% of recruiters are judging applicants based on social media. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have the proven power to sway an employer in favour or to the detriment of the candidate.

The communications industry has responded to the Brown scandal not with the rage much of the press has responded with but by pointing to better social media training for young people. Many have said that Brown, like most teenagers, lack the perspective to understand the impact their social media personalities can have in a professional setting.

Rob Brown, who sits on the Social Media Panel at the CIPR and founder of PR agency Rule 5, says, “Your digital footprint lives with you. This isn't just a generational issue. People of all ages need to be digitally literate. In 140 characters you can slander or defame an individual or organisation or destroy your own reputation. Some of your history can be edited but much of it is there forever."

In response to the scandal, the CIPR Social Media Panel has announced that it will push for schools and careers advisors to provide more professional social media guidance to young people. Additionally, the Panel will develop a set of guidance in the same area.

The Social Media Panel is chaired by Stephen Waddington and is comprised of some of the foremost social media practitioners in communications.