Nevada has become the 11th state to ban employers from seeking access to applicants' and employees' social media passwords with legislation that goes into effect this coming Oct. 1.
The law creates exceptions when employers view applicants' or employees' publicly viewable content and when a coworker voluntarily submits social media content (the snitch exemption?).
The Nevada law, however, does define social media quite broadly as "any electronic service or account or electronic content, including, without limitation, videos, photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, electronic mail programs or services, online services on Internet website profiles."
The other states with similar bans are Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.