Delete your account? Kansas TikTok bill could ban video app content from KU and K-State.

If you enjoy watching short form highlight videos of the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats playing basketball or football, that content could soon disappear from the TikTok app.

Kansas lawmakers are proceeding with a bill to ban TikTok from state government devices, ban state agencies from having TikTok accounts and ban anyone from using TikTok over a state network. Agencies with accounts would be required to delete their accounts.

The bill expands upon an executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly, which only applies to agencies directly under her control. It would apply to all state agencies, which includes state boards, institutions and their subdivisions — like the Kansas Board of Regents and state universities.

Both the University of Kansas and Kansas State University are active on TikTok, but far more popular are their athletic department accounts dedicated to KU basketball and K-State football. They showcase highlight reel dunks and 3-pointers, crowd shots, behind the scenes with players and other vertical video content that doesn't appear elsewhere.

"K-State is assessing the impact that banning TikTok would have on all aspects of the university, including student engagement and recruitment," said Michelle Geering, a university spokesperson. "We will monitor the progression of this bill."

Spokespeople for KU and KU Athletics did not respond to a request for comment. Neither did a Regents spokesperson.

Wichita State University spokesperson Lainie Mazzullo-Hart the school does not currently have a TikTok ban, but is tracking the legislation and "shall adhere to any restrictions imposed by law."

Requiring state networks to block TikTok would mean the app would be unusable on campus WiFi for students, teachers or visitors unless they turned off their WiFi and used phone service.

"The proposed legislation is not believed to be significantly impactful on WSU students because TikTok would still be accessible through non-university devices when connected through another network, such as a mobile network provider," Mazzullo-Hart said.

TikTok has grown to a recruiting tool as the third most popular social media application globally, behind Facebook and Instagram. The app is even more popular among American teenagers, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

One of WSU's pinned videos highlights in-state tuition offerings for certain out-of-state students. KU posted one this month answering "what does a school in Kansas have to offer?" In December, K-State posted a video interviewing winter graduates with tips for incoming students.

"WSU remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of its students, research, and data, and is prepared to shift its communications as needed," Mazzullo-Hart said.

More:Gov. Laura Kelly to ban TikTok on state devices amid national fears over Chinese ownership

Why do Kansas lawmakers want to ban TikTok?

Rep. Cyndi Howerton, R-Wichita, introduced the bill, HB 2314, amid widespread cybersecurity concerns focused on TikTok's connections to China. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. The bill has exceptions for state workers using TikTok for law enforcement and cybersecurity investigations.

"If I had my way, we would ban every piece of mobile application or website coming out of China, but we'll address that another day," said Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, after reading a quote about China from Mike Pompeo's new book.

Republican and Democratic officials fear potential privacy and security violations by the Chinese government. The FBI warned of "national security concerns."

"TikTok is a known miner of user data and has potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party, this bill is a proactive step to protect the privacy and safety of Kansans," said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita.

The bill was fast-tracked through committee, despite concerns from some representatives that they should take more time to consider its ramifications. It passed the full House on Thursday in a 109-12 vote. The effect on universities and their athletic departments wasn't discussed.

It must still go through the Senate before going to the governor.

"State legislatures are pressing ahead with bans of TikTok based on nothing more than the hypothetical concerns they've heard on the news," said TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown.

Brown said the company is working with the federal government to address security concerns and has already started implementing plans to further secure the platform.

"Singling out TikTok on all state devices and networks does nothing to improve security," he said. "All it does is prevent state universities' ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: TikTok ban could tell Kansas, Kansas State to delete the app, accounts