The U.S. Travel Association is responding to a government notice asking tourists from 42 countries to submit social media data.
Published December 15, 2025
A proposal to require millions of foreign travelers to provide social media handles they have used in the past five years could have a “chilling effect” on visits to the United States, a group representing the U.S. travel and tourism industry has warned.
The U.S. Travel Association issued a comment on the proposed changes on Monday. The proposed changes were announced in a U.S. government notice last week and are scheduled to take effect on February 8th. It requires travelers from countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program to submit social media data.
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“If we get this policy wrong, millions of travelers could be robbed of the billions of dollars they spend on their businesses and elsewhere, and it will only weaken the United States,” the association said. “One thing is not at issue: This policy could have a chilling effect on travel to the United States.”
Starting in 2019, immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to share that information.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken various measures to tighten screening of foreign nationals entering the US. The request for additional information stems from a Trump executive order issued on Jan. 20 that requires visitors to the United States to undergo “maximum scrutiny and inspection,” according to a notice released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Visa Waiver Program allows travelers from 42 countries, primarily in Europe, to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. You will need to fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form, and changes will require you to submit your social media handles.
The U.S. will also request all email addresses used within the past 10 years, as well as the names, dates of birth, residence, and place of birth of parents, siblings, children, and spouses, the notice said, which will be open for public comment for 60 days.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State announced that starting Dec. 15, all H-1B work visa applicants and their dependents will be required to adjust all privacy settings on their social media profiles to “public” in order for the department to review their social media posts.
The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the Soccer World Cup in 2026. This global event is expected to attract tourists from all over the world. The U.S. travel industry is counting on the event to help recover from the slump in tourism since President Trump took office.
Last week, the Trump administration began accepting applications for the Gold Card, which allows people to become permanent residents of the United States in “record time” by paying $1 million.
The program’s website, which critics say goes beyond U.S. law, said a “Platinum Card” for those who paid $5 million was “coming soon.”
