‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared

The US Customs and Border Protection Agency says Australia is among 49 countries whose visitors must present their social media profiles when applying to enter the US. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Australians are abandoning travel to the US, and boycotting World Cup matches there next year, as the Trump administration flags new rules that will soon require visitors to hand over their social media history when applying to enter the country.

In a notice published on Tuesday, the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) said tourists to the US from 42 countries including Australia would have to reveal all of their social media activity over the past five years under the new rules, which are up for a 60-day review before coming into effect. It would be a part of the application for a visa waiver under the ESTA application process.