US Plans New Rule: Tourists May Need to Share 5 Years of Social Media Before Entering the Country

US Plans New Rule: Tourists May Need to Share 5 Years of Social Media Before Entering the Country

The United States is considering a major change to its travel rules — one that could require millions of foreign tourists to hand over five years of social media history before they are allowed to enter the country. The proposal, announced by US officials, would apply to travellers from nations currently eligible for visa-free entry under the ESTA program.

Who Would Be Affected?

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) allows citizens of around 40 countries — including the UK, Ireland, France, Japan, and Australia — to visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa.

Currently, travellers only need to complete a short online form and pay a small fee.

Under the new plan, they may be required to submit:

Social media accounts used in the last five years

Phone numbers used in the past five years

Email addresses from the last ten years

Additional family information

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Why the New Requirement?

The proposal comes shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House. His administration has made border security and enhanced screening major priorities.

Officials argue that checking social media histories could help identify high-risk travellers and prevent potential security threats.

Concerns From Analysts and Privacy Advocates

Despite security goals, critics warn that the proposal could:

Discourage tourism due to increased screening

Require travellers to share intrusive personal data

Raise major privacy concerns, especially regarding online activity

Digital rights groups fear the rule could put online freedom and civil liberties at risk.

Will the Rules Hurt Tourism?

When asked about the potential impact on visitor numbers, President Trump said he was not concerned. He emphasized that safety comes first and expects tourism to remain strong, given the country's global popularity.

Upcoming Mega Events Could Influence Policy

The US is preparing to host major international events, including:

The 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup, held across the US, Canada, and Mexico

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Experts believe these events may push the government to tighten travel screening even further.

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What Happens Next?

The proposal was submitted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and published in the Federal Register, the official record of US government actions.

For now, nothing has changed. CBP says this is only the beginning of a public discussion. The government will collect feedback for 60 days before deciding on next steps.

Privacy experts, including Sophia Cope from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warn that the policy could expand government surveillance and slow down the ESTA system.

The Bottom Line

If approved, the rule would represent one of the biggest changes to US travel requirements in years, potentially affecting millions of tourists worldwide. For now, travelers can still enter under current ESTA rules — but more stringent screening may be on the horizon.