Please help ESTA question re social media

2anddone · 28 Apr 21, 11:20 AM

Hi
Trying to fill out my ESTA and it is asking me about my social media. Do I also need to include my business accounts on Facebook and Instagram as well as my personal ones? I am a childminder so mainly photos of our day etc (without children’s faces).
Also do I need to include my children’s social media when I do theirs? Think their is only a TikTok for my daughter and nothing for my son.
Thank you for any advice

irnjaw · 28 Apr 21, 11:27 AM

I didn't do my business page, I imagine it must be linked to my own page in some way, so they should find it if they look?

Whatever the kids have just list it, it won't do any harm, unless they're secretly up to no good online which I very much doubt!

2anddone · 28 Apr 21, 11:29 AM

Thank you so much for your reply. I am sweating more filling out the ESTA than I did handing in my dissertation or taking any exams 🤣

irnjaw · 28 Apr 21, 11:33 AM

Last time I did the ESTAs there was a big hoo-ha about including middle names. I hadn't provided ours on the application, even though they are on our passports. I worried about an issue at the airport the whole run up to the holiday. Totally forgot about it the week before we flew and didn't remember until after we arrived at the villa. Clearly not an issue whatsoever. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Charlangela · 28 Apr 21, 08:04 PM

I forgot to put my tiktok and another Instagram account I have but both linked to the same email. They were all approved so hopefully all fine xx

DorsetSeasider · 28 Apr 21, 08:17 PM

So does anyone know whether it is actually mandatory? It irks me that they 'need' that information, they should have enough with the passport details etc given that it is supposed to be based on a visa waiver.

POFQfan · 28 Apr 21, 09:15 PM

Did ours at the weekend and ticked that we don't have an online presence. Only maintain the bare minimum on facebook. Didn't really think about my son but can't see that it's a problem for a teenager with an Instagram account.

**NewtoOrlando** · 29 Apr 21, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by DorsetSeasider

So does anyone know whether it is actually mandatory? It irks me that they 'need' that information, they should have enough with the passport details etc given that it is supposed to be based on a visa waiver.

No. It’s still optional. We’ve had 3 Estas since they brought that question in, and I’ve never put any details done. The US customs and boarder control says it has no impact on getting a yes or no when you submit your application.

2anddone · 29 Apr 21, 04:44 PM

All done and approved...just need to hope we are allowed to fly now