Not to highjack the topic but I also read the IRS uses social media profiles to see if you are living above your means.
Something slightly similar to your "temporary access" theory happens if you owe the IRS even a small amount of money. They enter your bank account to seize cash and the bank charges you $100 for the inspection/invasion.
As for the topic at hand, I don't see why one cannot simply say they have no Facebook account. Since FB began, there have been more years of myself having no account than there have been of having one (meaning I'm a serial "account-deleter").
What if you created an account after being hired, or had plausible deniability to that effect? Would you be obligated to inform your employer whenever you manage other social media accounts?
The implications of this are terrifying. I'm glad that organizations like the ACLU are on this, because if corporations can set a precedent for this sort of privacy invasion, we're screwed to the nth degree.
If it is simply a screen to avoid applicants who would be massively unsuitable , membership of extreme political parties or heavily into drugs etc then perhaps not.
Otherwise you might need a form from HR for each social network you join.
The way I imagine this will play out in practice is that you will get companies who are "social reference agencies" or similar.
They will have special privileges with facebook etc and will be hired by other companies to screen applicant based on a number of factors and will produce a report for the client company that probably wouldn't contain any specific data etc but simply screen for any "red flags".
Something slightly similar to your "temporary access" theory happens if you owe the IRS even a small amount of money. They enter your bank account to seize cash and the bank charges you $100 for the inspection/invasion.
As for the topic at hand, I don't see why one cannot simply say they have no Facebook account. Since FB began, there have been more years of myself having no account than there have been of having one (meaning I'm a serial "account-deleter").