The Trump administration has proposed new rules that would require certain foreign visitors to the United States to provide their social media histories from the past five years as part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application process. The measure is aimed at strengthening security and providing U.S. authorities with more comprehensive information about travelers.

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Who Will Be Affected

The proposed changes would apply to travelers from 42 visa-waiver countries, including:

• United Kingdom
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Japan
• Israel
• Qatar
• Several European countries

These travelers currently use ESTA to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa.

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What Information Travelers Must Provide

Under the new proposal, visitors applying through ESTA would be required to submit:

• Social media histories from the prior five years (previously optional since 2016)
• Phone numbers and email addresses from the past five years
• Close family members’ names, birth dates, birthplaces, residences, and phone numbers
• Additional high-value personal data

Previously, providing social media information was optional, and applicants who did not provide it faced no negative consequences. The new rules would make this data mandatory, though implementation details are still unclear.

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Background: Immigration and Social Media Scrutiny

The proposal aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten U.S. immigration policy, including:

• Revising visa-waiver program rules
• Increasing scrutiny of travelers entering the U.S. legally or illegally
• Expanding vetting of social media accounts for student visa applicants

In June 2025, the State Department directed consulates to examine social media profiles for “hostile attitudes” toward the U.S., its culture, government, or institutions. Applicants were advised to set profiles to public, and a lack of social media presence could potentially be interpreted negatively.

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Public Comment and Next Steps

The Federal Register notice has opened a public comment period through February 9, 2026, allowing stakeholders, advocacy groups, and travelers to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

Officials have emphasized that the goal is to ensure enhanced security while maintaining transparency in the visa-waiver process, particularly for the ESTA system, which facilitates short-term visits to the U.S.

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Implications for Tourism and Travel

Critics have raised concerns that mandatory social media disclosure could:

• Discourage tourism and international business travel
• Raise privacy concerns for travelers
• Add complexity to the ESTA application process

Supporters argue that requiring social media histories provides a necessary tool for identifying potential security risks before travelers arrive in the United States.