US visa seekers could undergo social media screening

Visa seekers for the US could soon have to submit their social media identities, previous telephone numbers and email addresses, under a new plan proposed by the country's state department.

According to the filing, which was published on Friday and could affect 14.7 million people each year, visa-seeking visitors or would-be immigrants will be presented with a list of social media platforms.

Applicants will be required to disclose their social media identifiers so that five years worth of their online activity can be scrutinised.