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FAMU and FSU ban TikTok from their campuses amid cyber security concerns

A man in a dark suit and burgundy tie holds open a folder with a bill inside it
Will Brown
/
Jacksonville Today/ WJCT Public Media
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed (HB 3) on Monday, March 25, 2024 at Cornerstone Classical Academy in Jacksonville. Under the new law, children under 14 would not be allowed to have a social media account. Those who current do have social media accounts, would have them terminated. Children who are 14 and 15 years old could have social media profiles only with parental permission.

The TikTok ban comes as schools across the state are implementing similar restrictions and the Florida legislature is considering a statewide ban.

Florida A&M University and Florida State University have banned TikTok amid growing cyber security concerns.

The new university rule block students and faculty from accessing apps like TikTok, WeChat, and Fizz on university-owned devices or Wi-Fi connections.

The move comes amid growing worry the apps could pose a personal privacy or even national security threat. The parent company of those apps has offices in China and concern has grown that the company could be compelled to share private information with the Chinese government or spread propaganda.

FSU student Peter Rothenburg says he understands the reasons behind the ban.

"I feel like it’s highly addictive," said Rothenburg. "I don’t use much social media to begin with and I feel like it’s a lot of privacy concerns with the app, so I just stay away."

But FAMU Senior Brendon Ogilvie worries the prohibition could hurt Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He says TikTok gave smaller schools a way to get their names out there.

"Because we can show that culture, that fun, on TikTok of FAMU in 30 seconds," said Ogilvie. "So, it’s kind of difficult not being able to have that opportunity.

Meanwhile, a bill moving through the state legislature would require all public institutions to remove the restricted apps from state-owned devices and delete any associated accounts unless they receive a waiver from the state.

The University of Florida, The University of Central Florida, The University of South Florida, and New College are among a growing list of schools putting forward similar restrictions.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.