TAMUK bans app following state-wide order
On Dec. 7, 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to Texas state agency leaders announcing security threats posed by the Chinese through the popular social media app, TikTok.
In the letter, Abbott announced the immediate ban to use or download the app TikTok on government-issued devices. This includes Texas A&M University-Kingsville students and faculty who received an email on Jan. 18 stating the restriction of access to the app on the university’s network.
“This means students, faculty, staff and visitors will no longer be able to download or access TikTok while connected to the TAMUK network,” the TAMUK email stated.
Although the app was banned because of security concerns, it is a top platform students use during downtime as well as a platform used as a marketing technique for the university.
Krystal Emery, assistant director of marketing, the university has used the social media platform since June 2021 to help showcase the “Javelina student experience.”
But the ban will not stop Marketing and Communication from creating content that will showcase to students and visitors what the university is about and what goes on at Javelina Nation. It will just no longer include TikTok.
“We are continuing those efforts through our new Content Creator team, compromised of students who will continue to produce videos that reflect student life and academic spotlight videos for Instagram Reels, Facebook Video and YouTube to include YouTube Shorts,” Emery said.
To some students, the ban doesn’t seem to make a difference with security concerns as many can still access TikTok without the wireless network.
“At the end of the day, it didn’t really do anything, because you just turn off your wi-fi and you can still use it. But I think it is kinda dumb that they banned it for security reasons when yes it could perhaps pose a threat, but that’s just the internet. I feel like there are better things to focus on than TikTok for that,” Andrea Esqueda, TAMUK freshman, said.
Some students are using data to still use the app on campus.
“It’s an inconvenience to my mental, physical and social state. I just want to be on TikTok for the fun of it especially when I’m bored and just want to be on my phone. It takes up my data making it an inconvenience to my parents who pay for my phone,” Araceli Mireles, TAMUK senior, said. “For me, since I’m part of the LGBTQ community, I want to know what is going on in my community and the platform is an essential place for that.”
