Today, the White House is lifting its longstanding camera and photo ban on public tours. This ban has been in place for over 40 years. To announce the change in policy, the First Lady posted THIS video on her Instagram account. Effective today, guests are now welcome to take photos throughout the White House tour route and keep those memories for a lifetime. Visitors are also encouraged to share their experience using the hashtag #WhiteHouseTour. 
 
 Permitted Items: Phones and compact still cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are allowed inside the White House. Photography is permitted but may not interfere with the enjoyment of other guests on the tour. 
 
 Prohibited Items: Video cameras, including any action camcorders, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, tripods, monopods, and camera sticks are not permitted on White House Tours. Flash photography and livestreaming are not permitted while on the tour. 

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 For the first time in 40 years, visitors to the White House can take pictures and use social media during public tours of "the nation's house." 
 
 But they'll still have to leave their selfie sticks at home. 
 
 First Lady Michelle Obama made the announcement in an Instagram video showing her tearing the "no photos or social media allowed" sign in half. 
 
 In making the announcement, the White House said, "Visitors are also encouraged to share their experience using the hashtag #WhiteHouseTour." 
 
 Video cameras — including any action camcorders, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, tripods, monopods and camera sticks — are still banned.
– The "No Photos or Social Media Allowed" signs in the White House are history—one of them was ripped up by Michelle Obama in an Instagram video—and "Photography Is Encouraged" signs have appeared in their place. The camera and photo ban for public tours that was in place for more than 40 years has been dropped, and "guests are now welcome to take photos throughout the White House tour route and keep those memories for a lifetime," a White House press release says. "Visitors are also encouraged to share their experience using the hashtag #WhiteHouseTour." Video cameras, tripods, and flash photography are still banned, and selfie sticks should definitely be left behind, NBC reports.