TikTok Introduces Campus Verification, A New Feature for College Students
In a move reminiscent of Facebook’s early days, TikTok has announced a new feature called Campus Verification, designed to connect college students and foster a sense of community on the platform. This development comes as no surprise, given the immense popularity of TikTok among teenagers, with a 2024 Pew Research Center survey revealing that roughly six-in-ten teens use the app regularly.
Campus Verification allows students to add their college to their TikTok profile, browse their school’s page, filter by graduation year, and see which of their peers are most followed. This feature aims to provide a simpler and easier way for students to confirm their enrollment, connect with classmates, and turn TikTok into a hub for real-world connections and belonging on campus.
To implement this feature, TikTok has partnered with UNiDAYS, a student verification platform, to roll out Campus Verification to 6,000 U.S. universities. The process is straightforward: students need only click “add school” on their TikTok profile and follow the steps to verify their enrollment.
While Campus Verification is not an exact replica of Facebook’s early features, it does share some similarities. When Facebook launched in 2004, it was initially limited to Harvard students before expanding to other colleges, and eventually, the general public. Facebook’s early success was largely due to its ability to connect college students and provide a platform for them to share interests, join groups, and exchange contact information.
TikTok’s decision to introduce Campus Verification is likely an attempt to recreate some of that magic. By providing a dedicated space for college students to connect and share experiences, TikTok hopes to strengthen its appeal to this demographic and solidify its position as a leading social media platform.
As the new school year begins, Campus Verification is poised to become a valuable tool for college students looking to expand their social networks and connect with like-minded individuals. Whether TikTok’s efforts will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – the platform is committed to providing innovative features that cater to the needs of its users.
