As Indian students gear up to begin their academic journeys in the United States, a new concern looms over their digital lives: social media scrutiny.The US administration, under policies introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency, now requires international student visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts from the past five years. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok fall under the scanner, with immigration officers reviewing digital behaviour as part of character assessment.This has led to a surge in anxiety among Indian applicants, many of whom are rethinking what they’ve shared online. Some are scrubbing politically charged posts, while others are deleting entire accounts, worried that past jokes, opinions, or activism might be held against them during visa evaluations."I used to be quite vocal on LinkedIn about political issues," said Suraj (name changed), who recently secured admission to an Ivy League university for his master's programme. "My visa counsellor warned me, so the first thing I did was delete my account. I didn’t want to take any chances," he told the Indian Express.The concern intensified in the aftermath of large-scale pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses following the October 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict. Students fear that even attending peaceful demonstrations or posting about them could be misinterpreted during the visa process.Education consultants are now advising applicants to exercise caution. Meenal Damani, a Mumbai-based consultant, recommends avoiding likes, comments, or shares on political content. “Even indirectly endorsing a controversial opinion can be seen as a red flag by US authorities,” she said to India Today.While cleaning up digital footprints may seem like a protective move, experts warn that deleting too much too quickly can also raise suspicion. “Sudden disappearance of posts or profiles might prompt more questions,” explained Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Gradding.com. “The key is to maintain a consistent and aspirational online presence.”Shekhawat adds that social media screening is not just about politics. Immigration officers look for alignment between the applicant’s digital persona and their academic and professional goals.According The print reports, for some, the implications have already been serious. A PhD student at Jawaharlal Nehru University reportedly had his post-doctoral appointment in the US paused. He then wiped clean his accounts that featured Gaza casualty statistics and political commentary. “You never know what might offend them,” he said, adding that he even removed several apps from his phone.