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TikTok’s latest feature lets college students find and connect with classmates
TikTok has launched a new feature, Campus Verification, allowing college students to add their school details to their profiles to connect with classmates. Available at over 6,000 universities via a partnership with UNiDAYS, the feature aims to foster real-world connections on campus while raising digital privacy concerns. Users can opt-in and verify their student status with an academic email.
Key points
- Feature Name: Campus Verification, helps students connect with classmates.
- Access: Users add their college information to their profiles using the 'Add school' button.
- Verification Process: Academic email is required to confirm student status.
- Available at: Over 6,000 universities through UNiDAYS partnership.
- Purpose: Aims to create a community feel and enhance student connections, echoing early Facebook's mission.
- Privacy Concerns: Enables potential tracking of users online, but use is optional.
Why it matters
- Similar to Facebook's initial objective to connect college students.
- Instagram tested a comparable feature in the past indicating a trend among social platforms.
- Reflects broader trends in social media focusing on real-world connections and identity verification.
TikTok's Campus Verification represents a significant step in social media integration for students, enhancing community connections but also highlighting ongoing privacy concerns in digital platforms.