Use of TikTok at UBC

Last updated: September 19, 2024
Tapping on TikTok app

Encouraging Safe Use of TikTok

The Government of Canada has implemented a ban on the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, and provincial governments have followed suit. At this time, UBC is monitoring the situation closely and updates will be provided as required. We encourage you to be cautious by uninstalling the TikTok app from your devices and using your web browser to access content instead.

We also recommend that you evaluate your activities on all of your social media accounts, including updating your privacy settings and limiting the amount of personal information that you share.

UBC students celebrating Holi

TikTok is a popular social media platform with a focus on short-form video content. The app allows users to view and share videos, with suggested content determined by TikTok's algorithms.

TikTok is used by many UBC students, staff, and faculty for entertainment, education, research, outreach, and recruitment purposes. However, it has also raised security and privacy concerns due to its data collection practices and sharing of data with its parent company ByteDance, based in China.

Protecting Your Social Media Accounts and Personal Information

 

Stay informed

While we recognize the security and privacy risks of using TikTok, the nature of these risks has not yet been proven and has not changed overnight. While the federal and provincial bans have shone a spotlight on the issue, at this time UBC is not considering a ban on TikTok use on university-owned devices, however, the situation will continue to be monitored closely.

Students in the UBC Life Building

As this is a dynamic issue, we encourage you to bookmark this page for further updates. We also recommend that you use this information as an opportunity to evaluate your activities on all of your social media accounts, including TikTok.


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