How France, China and South Korea’s Social‑Media Mastery Tourists from this Country Could Vanish from US Under New Trump Administration Plan Requiring Five Years of Social Media History Declaration for First-Time Entrants

Published on December 11, 2025

France, China, and South Korea are masters of social media, with vast user bases and digital ecosystems that shape global trends. In France, nearly 70% of internet users engage with platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as highlighted by Eurostat reports. China‘s dominance is staggering, with over 1.1 billion social media users, accounting for 99.3% of internet users, as confirmed by the CNNIC. Platforms like WeChat and Douyin lead the way, driving China’s digital culture. South Korea ranks high globally in smartphone adoption and social media use, with 69.7% of the population active on social networks, as reported by the Ministry of Science and ICT. However, a new U.S. policy requiring five years of social media history for visa applicants could disrupt tourism. First-time entrants from these countries, particularly those with strict privacy laws, might find their travel plans complicated by the requirement, which poses risks to personal freedom while enforcing national security measures. This plan could significantly impact tourism from these social media powerhouses.

China. China is often described as an alternative digital universe, and official statistics show just how ubiquitous social networks have become. The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) reported that by December 2024 the country had 1.101 billion social‑network users – 99.3 % of all netizens[1]. Nearly every internet user in China is on a social platform. Instant‑messaging tools remain the default way people communicate; the same report counted 1.081 billion users of instant messaging, representing 97.6 % of netizens[2]. Video content is similarly pervasive: 1.04 billion Chinese internet users watched short videos, accounting for 93.8 % of netizens[3]. These numbers reveal more than just scale. Popular platforms such as Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou and Douyin have become integrated into shopping, payment and travel planning. The 55th Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development notes that the Beijing Olympics generated more than four billion interactions on major platforms and that companies are experimenting with AI‑driven social networking[4]. In other words, social networks have become the infrastructure through which Chinese citizens discover, discuss and purchase experiences. Chinese tourists are among the world’s most digitally connected travellers, expecting seamless access to apps that combine messaging, payments and travel services.

South Korea. Digital connectivity is also deeply woven into everyday life on the Korean Peninsula. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) survey households and individuals annually to understand how people use the internet. According to their 2022 Internet Usage Survey, 69.7 % of surveyed internet users reported using social‑network services (SNS)[5]. Although the figure is lower than China’s near‑universal adoption, social‑media penetration is nonetheless high and has been rising steadily since 2020[5]. The survey found that online video services were used by 96.1 % of respondents and that more than half of users now consume music, e‑books and webtoons via smartphone apps[6]. A separate infographic from the same survey reported that 5G internet connections accounted for roughly half of all internet access[7]. These figures underscore South Korea’s long‑standing reputation as a technology pioneer. Social media is the backbone of the “Hallyu” wave that propelled K‑Pop, K‑Drama and other cultural exports to global audiences. Travellers from South Korea are therefore accustomed to hyper‑connected environments and often share their journeys in real time.

France. France’s relationship with social networks is nuanced. Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, tracks digital adoption across EU member states. Its 2023 release on digital participation reports that 59 % of EU individuals engaged with social networks, but France’s share was among the lowest: only 44 % of people participated[8]. The same publication notes that France’s overseas regions record even lower rates, with participation ranging from 22 % in French Guiana to 40 % in Bourgogne[9]. These figures might suggest tepid enthusiasm; however, France is home to some of the highest per‑capita internet use in the EU and remains a global influencer in fashion, gastronomy and tourism. French social‑media users tend to engage heavily when they do participate. A digital barometer by ARCEP (the telecommunications regulator) notes that 59 % of people who use social media multiple times per day feel their screen time is excessive[10], implying an intense user base. French influencers drive trends on Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, and the country’s tourism industry relies on digital storytelling to entice visitors. Though overall participation rates may lag behind other digital leaders, those who are online are avid content creators and consumers.

The U.S. plan to collect five years of social‑media history

Shortly after entering office in January 2025, the U.S. administration issued Executive Order 14161, directing federal agencies to improve visa screening and determine what information is necessary to adjudicate visas, and authorising suspending entry for nationals of countries that do not share adequate information[11]. In response, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a proposal in the Federal Register to amend the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used by visa‑waiver travellers. The notice seeks to make social media a mandatory data element for first‑time ESTA applicants. CBP explained that it would require travellers to provide their social‑media identifiers for the past five years and that this change is consistent with the executive order’s enhanced vetting directives[12]. The proposed form expansion also adds fields for telephone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, alternate names, family and travel companions and biometric data[12]. While CBP says the additional information will improve risk assessments and protect national security, the notice acknowledges that the public has 60 days to submit comments on the proposal.

Critics argue that mandatory disclosure of social‑media handles compromises privacy and could deter legitimate travellers. Unlike previous voluntary fields, the new requirement would obligate foreign visitors to reveal five years of digital footprints, enabling authorities to scrutinise personal opinions, contacts and online behaviour. Privacy advocates warn that such data collection may disproportionately affect citizens of countries with robust online cultures and may create new targets for data breaches. The policy also raises practical questions: travellers may have used multiple platforms or changed usernames, making full disclosure difficult. Governments in Europe and Asia have largely avoided collecting citizens’ social‑media information for travel purposes, so the U.S. proposal stands out as a significant expansion of digital‑era vetting.

How social‑media cultures meet visa policies

The intersection of digital lifestyles and visa policies has implications for international tourism. To gauge the potential impact, it is useful to consider who visits the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and other categories. Data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that the United Kingdom sent 4.037 million visitors in 2024, followed by India (2.19 million), Germany (1.995 million), Brazil (1.910 million) and Japan (1.844 million)[13]. Canada and Mexico, whose citizens often enter by land, accounted for 9.7 million and 3.5 million air visitors, respectively[14]. Many of these travellers come from societies with high social‑media engagement. Japan and Germany, for example, each send over one million visitors annually, and their populations have social‑network participation rates of 69 % and 49 %, respectively (according to Eurostat). South Korea’s travellers – around 2 million in a typical year – are almost all heavy social‑media users.

China’s situation is more complicated. Chinese citizens are not part of the VWP and must obtain B‑category visas for tourism. Under existing visa procedures they already undergo extensive screening, including interviews and document checks, and the U.S. regularly issues fewer tourist visas to Chinese nationals when bilateral relations are tense. If the United States makes social‑media disclosure mandatory across all visa categories, Chinese travellers – who use domestic platforms like Weibo and WeChat almost universally – would have to translate and report their activity logs for five years[1]. The sheer volume of data and the sensitivity of conversations on Chinese platforms could discourage would‑be visitors.

South Korea participates in the VWP and would be directly affected by the ESTA changes. Korean travellers, especially younger generations who share K‑Pop concerts and café visits on Instagram or KakaoStory, might balk at handing over their entire digital history. The NIA survey already highlights privacy concerns: a majority of non‑users say they avoid SNS because they believe it is unnecessary, while active users emphasise personal journalling and social connection[5]. Requiring disclosure of social‑media identifiers could push some travellers to reconsider U.S. vacations or to choose destinations with less intrusive entry procedures.

France is also a VWP member. Although only 44 % of the French population actively participates in social networks[8], those who do are prolific content creators. Parisian influencers and digital entrepreneurs often operate across multiple platforms and maintain pseudonymous profiles for artistic expression. Mandatory disclosure of all accounts could chill creative expression and raise legal questions under EU data‑protection rules. European officials have previously criticised U.S. surveillance practices, and the new requirement may reignite debates about adequacy decisions and trans‑Atlantic data flows.

Tourism stakes and policy trade‑offs

Tourism is not just a cultural exchange; it is also an economic driver. The NTTO estimates that each overseas visitor spends thousands of dollars during their stay. A significant drop in arrivals from major markets could affect airlines, hotels, retailers and rural communities that depend on tourism. South Korea, France and China contribute millions of visitors annually, and their travellers are typically high spenders. Social‑media culture amplifies travel inspiration; travellers often pick destinations based on influencer posts and share experiences with followers. If the U.S. requires five years of social‑media history, some travellers may simply opt for friendlier destinations. European travellers might choose to holiday within the Schengen Area, while Asian tourists could redirect visits to Australia or Canada.

From a security perspective, policymakers argue that social‑media screening can reveal extremist sympathies, fraud or threats that traditional background checks might miss. The U.S. has previously asked for social‑media handles on visa applications, but the information was optional. The proposed rule would formalise and expand this practice. Balancing security with civil liberties will require careful design: limiting the scope to publicly available identifiers, ensuring data is encrypted and purged after screening, and providing clear guidelines on how information is used. International cooperation could also help. For instance, countries with robust digital‑identity systems – like South Korea, which has pioneered mobile ID cards – might negotiate reciprocal arrangements to streamline verification without exposing full social‑media histories.

Conclusion

France, China and South Korea illustrate how social‑media adoption shapes culture, commerce and travel. China’s digital ecosystem shows almost universal engagement[15]; South Korea balances an intense online culture with world‑leading infrastructure[5]; France demonstrates that even moderate participation rates can generate outsized creative influence[8]. The U.S. proposal to require five years of social‑media history for visa‑waiver travellers springs from a legitimate desire to enhance security but risks alienating digital‑savvy tourists. As governments grapple with the risks and opportunities of a hyper‑connected world, they must remember that trust is a two‑way street. Policies that respect privacy and cultural differences are more likely to attract visitors, encourage cooperation and maintain the open exchange that social media was meant to foster.

References

1. CNNIC — The 55th Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development[15].
2. CNNIC — discussion of AI‑driven social networking and Olympic‑related engagements[4].
3. Eurostat — 59 % of EU individuals using social networks in 2023[8][9].
4. ARCEP digital barometer — statement that 59 % of heavy social‑media users in France feel their screen time is excessive[10].
5. Ministry of Science and ICT / NIA — data from the 2022 Internet Usage Survey (SNS usage rate 69.7 %, rising trend)[5] and infographic on digital service usage[6].
6. U.S. Executive Order 14161 (Jan 20 2025) — directive on enhanced visa vetting[11].
7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Federal Register notice proposing mandatory social‑media data for ESTA applications[12].
8. U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office — Survey of International Air Travelers 2024 (visitor counts)[13][14].