This Week in Explainers: Why your entry to the US might depend on your social media history

How addicted are you to social media? What about the teens around you? It’s a question everyone, including governments, is asking. Australia has prompted the world to think harder about the use of social media. On December 10, in a world first, millions of under-16 Australians were forced to go offline. They no longer have access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit, among others. We have been tracking this story closely.

Talking of social media, what you post could decide whether you are eligible to enter the US. The Trump administration is going to start social media vetting of H-1B and H4 visa (spouse and dependent children of H1-B holders) seekers. That’s not all. Even tourists could be asked for their five-year social media history before entry.

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As another year comes to an end, peace remains elusive, and more and more countries find themselves embroiled in wars. While the Ukraine peace plan faces its ups and downs, newer conflicts continue to unfold. The US is ramping up pressure on Venezuela. In a big move, it seized an oil tanker off the country’s coast and imposed fresh sanctions on six more ships said to be carrying Venezuelan crude.

Another dispute has rekindled, that between Thailand and Cambodia. The fighting between the two nations intensified along the border, forcing thousands to flee. Amid this, Thailand has dissolved parliament, with a general election to be called within 45 to 60 days.

We cover all this and more in our weekly roundup.

1. You can’t live with it, you can’t live without it. That’s the dilemma about social media. Now, in a bold move, Australia has become the first in the world to ban social media for under-16s. Children in the country cannot access 10 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. But what triggered the nation to take this big step? The tragic suicide of a teen, who was reportedly bullied online.

2. Australia’s social media has got other nations thinking. More and more nations are mulling a similar move. Denmark and Malaysia are introducing stricter restrictions for younger teens. What is India’s stance? We explain.

3. Ban or no ban, your presence on social media could impact your chances of working or travelling to the US. The State Department’s new social media vetting policy has led to massive disruptions for H1-B visa applicants in India. That’s now all. The US may soon allow tourists entry after checking their five-year social media history.

4. Who does Donald Trump want in his country? Mostly immigrants who can afford the $1 million Gold Card. This visa programme enables wealthy foreign nationals to get permanent residency in the US. Which visas will this Gold Card replace? And how does this compare to the green card? This story answers all your questions.

5. Trump recently got a peace prize. Not the Nobel but the FIFA one. Even as the US president claims to end wars, he is triggering a conflict. Tensions with Venezuela are escalating, with Trump now targeting its oil sector. After seizing a tanker, the US announced sanctions on shipping companies and vessels, saying they help move Venezuelan oil. Here’s what is going on.

6. Yet another conflict has reignited. Cambodia and Thailand are clashing at the border, with Cambodia accusing the Thai military of continued shelling. This comes months after Trump brokered a peace deal between the two. The US president is stepping in once again, but nothing seems to stop the tension. Why are the two nations fighting?

7. Donald Trump has had his reservations about Europe. Now, reports suggest that a radical idea might be shaping up – a new “Core 5” grouping that would include the US, China, Russia, India and Japan. Such an alliance would sideline the G7. The idea reportedly appeared in a longer, unpublished version of the National Security Strategy referenced by Defense One, a publication that talks about US defence and international security. But Politico, which reported about it, said it could not verify the existence of the document. Is “Core 5” then just a diplomatic fantasy?

8. Last Sunday, Pakistan’s Karachi was gripped by unrest. Massive protests demanding a separate Sindhudesh turned violent. What started as a cultural celebration escalated to a clash spearheaded by Sindhi nationalists. But why do they want a separate State? We explain.

That’s all from us this week as far as world news goes. You can find more such explainers here.