If you’ve ever shared a political take, reposted something about a protest, or simply liked the “wrong” tweet — the United States might soon want a full record of that.
Under new plans announced by the Trump administration, tourists from 42 visa-waiver countries (including Australia, because of course) could be required to hand over five years of social media history before being allowed to enter the US.
The proposal, published by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Tuesday (local time), also asks travellers to supply all telephone numbers used in the past five years, any email addresses from the last decade, and even face, fingerprint, DNA and iris biometrics.
Oh, and they’ll also ask for the names, birthdates and places of birth of family members — because nothing screams holiday like figuring out your entire family tree.
According to CBP, it’s all part of a new executive order issued by Donald Trump, who called for tighter restrictions to ensure visitors “do not bear hostile attitudes toward [US] citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles”.
The changes are being applied through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) — which is what visitors from visa-waiver countries (like Australia, Japan, France, and the UK) must complete before boarding a flight to the US.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, hasn’t yet commented on the plan. Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, also “did not immediately respond to questions”, according to The Guardian.
The move lands at a particularly inconvenient moment. The US is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico, an event expected to attract more than 5 million fans.
When journalists asked Trump whether he was concerned whether or not the new proposal would impact tourism, he said, “No. We’re doing so well.”
“We want safety. We want security. We’re not letting the wrong people come into our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, tourism is already dipping — California authorities report a 9 per cent drop in foreign visits this year and Hollywood Boulevard in LA saw a 50 per cent slump in foot traffic over the US summer, per The Guardian.
The five-year social media check isn’t the only measure ruffling feathers.
Earlier in 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it would start scanning visa applicants’ online activity for so-called “anti-American” views. The administration also demanded that foreign students unlock their social media profiles during visa screening — with those refusing facing suspicion of “hiding” something.
More recently, officials were reportedly told to deny visas to anyone who had worked in fact-checking or content moderation — accusing them broadly of being “responsible for… censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression”.
Pot, kettle, etc…
Combine that with device searches at the border (CBP conducted 47,000 last year) and steep new tourism fees — including an extra $100 per day for non-residents visiting national parks — and it’s not exactly the warm welcome you’d expect.
These new plans come on top of several policy shifts that are already hitting Aussies trying to live or work in the US.
Trump recently signed an executive order slapping an extra US$100,000 (about AU$153,000) fee on the H‑1B visa, which allows US companies to hire skilled foreign professionals. On top of that, applicants won’t even be allowed to enter the country until that hefty amount has been paid.
Australians may also have to fly back home to renew their visas instead of going to a close by consulate (like in the UK) under a new directive that requires visa applicants to prove residency in the country they apply from.
For Australians dreaming of studying, working, or even road-tripping their way across America, the message is becoming pretty clear: brace for more red tape, more costs, and probably a few more password resets.
Lead image: AP News / Getty
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