That's right, both before US Consulates when applying for visas, before CBP when applying for admission, and before USCIS when applying for a benefit (H-1B, O-1, green card, etc.), social media is being reviewed, not across-the-board but more and more. And there's really no option to keep social media as private if asked to turn to public by a Consular Officer or CBP Officer. The review is broad and not limited to social media that is critical of US policy but extends to a review of an individual's entire background to make sure there were no violations of US immigration law, including unauthorized employment.

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nisegami an hour ago | parent [-]

CBP actually made me give them my facebook password when entering on a J1 visa in 2017, so I'm surprised to hear so much talk about this. Is it more that the practice of checking social media is more widespread now?

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rwmj 8 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

I think the only bit that surprises me is they don't have a back door into Facebook.

	▲	lcc 3 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Why waste the backdoor on routine screening?

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barbazoo an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

If one didn’t have an account with meta they just wouldn’t get the visa then or how does it work?

Does the government have any direct link to meta re what accounts people actually have. I’m surprised people aren’t up in arms about this, I guess it affects mostly visitors and immigrants but the fact that the government needs to see your activity on a private company’s web app is wild to me.

	▲	monerozcash 43 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		"I don't use social media" is probably a good answer, it just has to be true. If they ask you "well, do you use any social media?" You'd presumably have to answer with HN, which maybe doesn't sound all that great :)
	▲	nisegami 22 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Yes, it did occur to me that there would be no way to verify it. But it felt like it was in my best interest to at least provide something.