By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In March, Barton Community College Board of Trustee Don Learned
questioned the college’s use of TikTok, a social media, short-form video
hosting service owned by a Chinese company. At Tuesday’s meeting, Learned was
prepared to ask the college to stop using TikTok for advertising to attract
potential students in fear that the money is going to the Chinese government.
"I think it gives the Communist party an insight into our college because that's what it does with the kids," said Learned. "I know 150 million people view TikTok. I'm not against those individuals. They can do what they want to. I just don't think that our college should be spending money advertising on TikTok when there are other ways."
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TikTok has received world-wide criticism over user privacy. The majority of the
states have banned the application on government-issued devices.
In March, Barton Chief Communications Officer Maggie Harris said all of Barton's competitors and peers are using TikTok and the college's goal is to reach students where they are at. Harris noted Barton would continue to monitor regulations regarding usage of the app.
At Tuesday's meeting, Trustees
Chairman Mike Johnson said Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman and the college’s
communications department are actively looking at the TikTok situation. Johnson noted the budget year is over at the end of June which should give the college time to determine action to take for the next fiscal year.
"They are actively looking at that based on comments from the board," said Johnson. "I would like to let them have that time to continue to evaluate the process and come back with a proposal for what they are going to do for the next budget."
Johnson recommended placing the college’s use of TikTok as an agenda item for
their meeting in July to allow Heilman and the communications department time
to discuss possible action.