Now some in the travel industry fear the proposed social media mandate, announced this month, could further damage international visitation to the United States.<\/p>\n
David Marriott recently visited Orlando from the U.K., calling it a \u201ctrip of a lifetime\u201d for his three children. The family spent two weeks experiencing Central Florida\u2019s theme parks and coastline.<\/p>\n
Marriott wants to return to the United States, but the social media policy gives him pause. He worries posts criticizing Trump\u2019s handling of the pandemic or the Jan. 6 Capitol riots could lead to travel authorization being denied.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching America under Trump, it feels like you can\u2019t have an opinion different to his,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, yes, I would probably keep away from expressing any opinions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The idea that visitors should stifle their speech bothers some, and others fear the mandate could spur other countries to impose similar rules for U.S. tourists.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration hasn\u2019t detailed exactly how the proposed social media screening would work or what content could disqualify someone from entering the United States.<\/p>\n
The proposal, under a 60-day review<\/a>, would expand the information that must be provided by tourists from visa-waiver countries, mostly in Europe, when completing their Electronic System for Travel Authorization form, or ESTA. The 42 countries on the visa-waiver list<\/a> cover some of America\u2019s closest allies, including Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Japan and the U.K.<\/p>\n Travelers would need to list social media accounts used within the past five years on their ESTA form, which is needed to visit for up to 90 days. That request previously was voluntary for tourists from countries in the visa-waiver program. The agency also intends to add new data fields, such as email addresses used within the past 10 years, addresses and phone numbers of immediate family members, and biometrics, such as a face or iris scan, fingerprints or DNA.<\/p>\n In online forums frequented by British theme park fans, the proposed changes have been greeted with everything from acceptance to anger. Some have labeled it dystopian, while others have said they see no problem with submitting their social media handles.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Debbie Churchill, who lives in the U.K., has been a regular visitor to Central Florida since the early 1990s. She joked she pities the bot handling the assignment of reviewing the mundane snapshots of her life on Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say I\u2019m thrilled by the idea of being required to hand over the keys to my online presence. \u2026 I object on the grounds of privacy and security,\u201d Churchill said. \u201cWhat really bothers me, though, is the potential for stifling free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n But Churchill said not traveling to Florida would be \u201ccutting off one\u2019s proverbial nose,\u201d given her deep affection for the U.S.<\/p>\n Trump has brushed aside criticism that scrutinizing social media could hurt tourism.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want safety,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cWe want security. We want to make sure we\u2019re not letting the wrong people into our country.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not answer questions from the Orlando Sentinel on what exactly the new policy would entail.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe,\u201d an agency spokesperson said.<\/p>\n![\"British](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tos-l-orlando-global-travel1090.jpg\")
British Airways counter at terminal C of the Orlando International Airport, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n