TikTok is taking inspiration from Facebook’s early days with its new feature, Campus Verification. Launched just in time for the new school year, the tool lets students confirm enrollment, connect with classmates, and create a stronger sense of community within the app.
With Campus Verification, students can:
- Add their college to their profile
- Browse their school’s dedicated page
- Filter by graduation year
- See the most-followed peers on campus
The move recalls Facebook’s original 2004 model, when it was limited to college students before expanding worldwide. TikTok is rolling out the feature to 6,000 U.S. universities through a partnership with UNiDAYS, a student verification platform.
TikTok says the goal is to turn the platform into a hub for real-world connections and belonging on campus. Given that a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found six in ten teens use TikTok regularly, the feature is expected to resonate strongly with younger users entering college life.
Campus Verification may not be identical to Facebook’s early format, but it brings back the same sense of exclusivity and networking that helped social media first take off.
