Visiting students can't hide social media accounts from Uncle Sam anymore

The US State Department last week said foreign nationals seeking to study in the US must make their social media profiles public, prompting some students to delete their social media posts.

"Every visa adjudication is a national security decision," the State Department said, adding that under the new guidance, the online presence of those seeking study and exchange visas will be scrutinized.

"To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public,'" the State Department said.

F visas are for academic study, M visas are for vocational or other nonacademic programs, and J visas are for participating in educational and cultural exchange programs.

US lawmakers became interested in social media screening after the December 2, 2015, terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, which killed 14 people. It was later learned ...