US tightens entry rules: why your social media may come under scrutiny

Australians travelling to the US under the popular visa waiver program could soon be required to show US authorities their social media data from the past five years to get into the country.

The Visa Waiver Program is a fast-track entry system into the US designed to make short-term travel easier.

It allows visitors to enter the US for 90 days by obtaining a waiver known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

In a proposal announced on December 10 by the by US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security, ESTA applicants will need to provide the names of their social media accounts for the past five years.

Currently, ESTA applicants may voluntarily provide their social media history, and are prompted for their Facebook profile, LinkedIn name, Instagram handle and Twitter/X identification.

Additional proposed rules would require travelers to provide the last 10 years of email addresses, IP addresses, photo metadata, biometric data, and details about their family members.

The proposal is seeking feedback up until February 9, 2026.