US to ask foreign tourists for five-year social media history before entry
Tourists from several countries, including the UK, may soon be required to submit a five-year history of their social media activity before being allowed entry into the United States, according to a new proposal by US officials.
The measure would apply to nationals from countries eligible for visa-free travel to the US for up to 90 days, provided they complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has pushed for stricter border controls, citing national security. Analysts warn that the proposed rule could deter visitors and pose risks to digital privacy.
When asked whether the requirement might discourage tourism, Trump dismissed concerns, saying the US is performing well and that safety remains the top priority.
The US expects a surge in foreign visitors next year as it co-hosts the men’s football World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection submitted the proposal to the Federal Register. The document states that ESTA applicants will be required to provide their social media information from the last five years, though it does not specify what exact details would be collected.
Currently, the ESTA form requires minimal personal data and a one-time fee of $40. It is available to citizens of around 40 countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Australia and Japan,allowing multiple entries over two years.
The new proposal also seeks to collect applicants’ phone numbers used in the past five years, email addresses from the past decade, and additional family details. It references a January executive order by Trump focused on strengthening national security.
The public has 60 days to submit comments on the proposal.
CBP stressed that nothing has changed yet and that the document merely initiates discussions on new policies to enhance the safety of Americans.
Digital rights advocates, including Sophia Cope from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, criticised the plan, saying it could worsen civil liberties violations. Immigration law firm Fragomen also warned the new requirements could slow down ESTA processing times.
The Trump administration has previously announced plans to review the social media activity of applicants for student visas and H-1B skilled worker visas. Applicants and their dependants must make their social media profiles public for screening. Some visa applicants are already required to list all social media usernames used over the last five years, with failure to do so risking denial of current or future visas.
A senior State Department official said Americans expect their government to take every necessary step to keep the country safe. As part of its broader tightening of border policies, the administration has also indicated that the existing travel ban affecting 19 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean could be expanded. This announcement came after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, DC, allegedly by an Afghan national.
Experts say Trump’s travel policies have already had a negative effect on US tourism.
The World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the US was the only one among 184 economies expected to record a decline in international visitor spending in 2025. Additional policies such as Canadian boycotts in response to US tariffs have also contributed to the drop, with October marking the tenth consecutive month of reduced Canadian travel to the US. Canada has historically accounted for about a quarter of all international visitors, spending more than $20 billion annually.
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