A growing number of Indian students are deleting social media posts—and in many cases, entire accounts—amid rising anxiety over the Trump administration’s plans to introduce mandatory social media vetting for all international students seeking to study in the United States. The policy, which requires visa applicants to disclose social media handles from the past five years, is raising fears that even casual or old online activity could lead to visa denial.
The change follows a year of heightened political demonstrations on U.S. campuses, particularly pro-Palestine protests after Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Students now worry that political jokes, activism, or even shared content might be interpreted as a red flag by immigration officials.
Some visa counsellors warn that even liking or sharing sensitive posts may be enough to disqualify an application. Conversely, they caution that the sudden deletion of accounts might also draw suspicion. As a result, students are walking a tightrope—scrubbing their online presence without making it too obvious.
Mamta Shekhawat, founder of the educational consultancy Gradding.com, noted that authorities use applicants’ online profiles to assess their character and evaluate how well their personal and professional goals align with their visa purpose. “Even the smallest hint of political or violent activism, or controversial remarks, can be counted as suspicious,” she said.
The U.S. government has reportedly deployed artificial intelligence tools to identify and flag individuals who “appear to support” extremist groups, further intensifying concerns. Students are now being advised to refrain from engaging in or promoting political content, including reposts or endorsements of others’ views.
Meenal Damani, an education consultant, advised against joining or commenting on political movements online. “Even a share or a like can be seen as support,” she warned.
For Suraj, a recent Ivy League admit who was previously vocal about political issues on LinkedIn, the warning came early. “One of the first things I did when I applied for my student visa was to delete my LinkedIn profile,” he said. He has also stopped attending public protests, fearing that even a single photo could jeopardize his plans.
A PhD student from Jawaharlal Nehru University recounted how a U.S. university paused his post-doctoral offer after reviewing his online activity, which included posts about Palestine, Gaza casualties, and global authoritarianism. “You don’t know what will offend them,” he said, adding that he has since wiped his social media presence and uninstalled several apps from his phone.
As the Trump administration doubles down on digital surveillance of foreign students, the pressure is mounting for many Indian applicants to censor or erase their digital identities in hopes of keeping their academic dreams alive.