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At least one of my employers uses Sterling, and I can tell you that they never checked my social media, or even asked about it, as I got the paper report from them. I'm more apt to blame the employer than I am to blame the background check company - I seriously doubt they just throw in this kind of service for free.

> The smartest way to screen toxic workplace behavior. Compliant, AI-based online screening for the enterprise.

I'd be surprised if their AI is more than a "bad" and a "good" keyword list. Results certainly look about as sophisticated.

Sterling is terrible not only because they’re needlessly invasive, but also because they cannot run a background check.

Before I got into software I was a model, something very obvious if you search my name. I’ve had two background checks done by Sterling and they’ve never connected the dots.

On the last background check I had with them, they marked every one of my previous employers as "unable to contact" and asked me to provide proof of employment. I have to wonder whether they just didn't bother picking up the phone.