The United States Embassy in Dakar has introduced a new requirement for F, M, and J visa applicants, mandating that they make their social media privacy settings publicly visible— a move that has sparked a backlash online.
The embassy announced that all non-immigrant visa applicants falling under the F, M, or J categories—including students, interns, and exchange program participants—must now ensure that their social media accounts are publicly accessible during the application process.
According to the U.S. diplomatic mission, the measure is intended to support identity verification procedures and to help determine applicants’ admissibility to the United States.
The new rule, made public through an official post on social media on Tuesday, quickly drew widespread criticism. Many online users condemned the policy as a violation of privacy and called it intrusive and discriminatory, particularly against African nationals. Some critics argued that it adds yet another barrier to international mobility for young students.
As of now, the U.S. Embassy in Dakar has not issued a formal response to the concerns raised.
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