[proberts]

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.

[nisegami]

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?

[barbazoo]

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]

"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 :)

[trollbridge]

You could say you use Y Combinator's news comment board.

[b112]

HN isn't social media, any more than a bus is a car.

[monerozcash]

I don't think you want to try that argument with immigration officials, although it might just keep your incorrect answer from being straight up fraud or willful misrepresentation.

I mean, some US govt immigration forms asking for your social media usernames include pastebin sites like "justpaste.it". See for example: https://static.feber.se/article_images/42/10/92/421092_1280....

Knowing that, it's crystal clear HN falls strictly within that definition of "social media", although it might not be as clear if you don't know what that particular site is.

[barbazoo]

I love how bad that list is.

[nisegami]

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.

[WalterSear]

You would have to make sure your search footprint supported that. IE - fully private, non-publicly-visible profiles everywhere.

[rwmj]

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

[trollbridge]

I would consider it extremely likely they have some kind of visibility into your data at Meta via Palantir.

[lcc]

Why waste the backdoor on routine screening?

[mpweiher]

Who says they don't?

And who says that asking for your password is to gain entry?

[quotemstr]

What are the most common reasons for failing the social media check?