US plans mandatory social media checks for millions of travelers

The U.S. is getting ready to make it harder for some visitors to enter the country. As part of these changes, officials plan to require social media checks for anyone wanting to come to the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to ask visitors traveling to the U.S. without a visa to share their social media usernames from the last five years, according to Bloomberg.

The new rules would affect travelers from countries including the UK, Japan, Australia, and most European nations. These visitors currently use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the U.S.

US plans to make tourist social media checks mandatory

The U.S. has asked some travelers for their social media information in the past, but it wasn’t always required. Since 2016, travelers using the ESTA online system could voluntarily share their social media account names. And since 2019, those applying for visas have been required to provide five years of social media history.

This new plan would mark the first time visitors who don’t need a visa would be required to undergo this level of security check.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is increasing security measures and how it verifies travelers’ identities. As part of these updates, people applying for travel authorization through the ESTA program will now be required to provide their usernames or account names from social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Okay, so this new thing isn’t live yet. It still needs to go through all the official steps before it actually becomes a rule we all have to follow. Basically, it’s not final until they finish going through the paperwork and make it official.

Moving forward with this plan quickly could cause problems for people traveling to the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.

Currently, the ESTA application process hasn’t changed. However, travelers going to the U.S. might soon need to provide more detailed information digitally when they arrive at the border.

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2025-12-10 17:49