What changed
In mid-June 2025, the US Department of State announced expanded social-media vetting for student and exchange-visitor visa applicants. Anyone applying for an F (academic student), M (vocational student) or J (exchange visitor) visa is now requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to "public" so consular officers can review them as part of identity and admissibility screening.
What it means for students
Applicants must continue to list every social media platform they have used over the past five years on the DS-160 application form and keep their profiles publicly visible during the visa process. Listing "None" when accounts exist can be treated as misrepresentation and can lead to a visa denial or permanent ineligibility.
Indian students preparing US applications should review their online presence, ensure the platforms disclosed on the DS-160 match their real accounts, and be ready for consular officers to view public posts. Guidance is published on official US embassy and travel.state.gov pages.