Introduction
Jonathan: A huge school in Texas just banned TikTok from its networks, as the U.S. and state governments are also cracking down. We’ll tell you why people are nervous about Gen Z’s favorite app. Plus –
Sound: Robot: “Hello”
Is this robot the solution to America’s nurse shortage?
Those stories and more today on Notice News.
TikTok Bans Picking Up Steam
Jonathan: Hey guys it’s Jonathan here at Notice HQ in Brooklyn. Are tiktok’s days numbered in the United States?
This week, the University of Texas at Austin blocked access to TikTok across its computer networks. It’s just one more on the growing list of places that’s either restricting TikTok or banning it completely. Our Washington correspondent Angie has more.
Angie: How many times a day do you check TikTok? You may not be able to as much soon if you’re a student at the University of Texas-Austin.
On Tuesday, the massive school banned access to the app through both its WiFi and wired networks.They’re just the latest in a growing number of institutions and state governments taking actions against the app.
According to CNN, more than half of all states have restricted some level of TikTok access on state-owned devices. And it’s not because it’s an addictive app – it’s because of who owns it – a Chinese company called Bytedance.
Critics fear the Chinese government could be collecting data on millions of americans.
Here’s the head of the FBI last month.
Sound: Christopher Wray: “We do have national security concerns, at least from the FBI’s end, about TikTok. They include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users, or control the recommendation algorithm which could be used for influence operations if they so choose.”
Unlike in America, the Chinese government has much more say in how companies are run and what they must allow the government access to – to stay in business.
TikTok says the bans are based on “unfounded falsehoods,” but multiple press reports revealed employees at TikTok’s parent company have accessed non-public data like phone numbers and location info.
It’s not clear what, if any, action President Biden might take against TikTok.
Headlines
Here’s what else is making news right now.
At least 14 are dead and 25 more were injured after a helicopter crash in Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv. Several government officials on board didn’t survive. it’s reported the crash wasn’t caused by Russian interference.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested Monday in Germany for protesting the expansion of a coal mine. She and other protestors were carried away by police near a village that will be demolished to make room for the mine.
And – this viral video is paying off big time for the family who posted it. Delta says they’re flying the boy and his family to New York for an all-expense paid trip to Broadway.
Will Robots Solve the Nurse Shortage?
Last week we told you about the ongoing nurse shortage in our country. As boomers get older and retire, there are going to be more nursing positions open than there are nurses to fill them.
One hospital here in New York even reported 800 registered nurse and nurse practitioner positions empty over the summer. But is this part of the solution?
Sound: Robot: Hello…
Meet Moxie – a robot who’s a full time employee at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital just outside Chicago.
Moxie has a simple but important job: delivering supplies and medication.
Sound: “Put in the request on the iPad, and then in a few moments she’ll come and then she’ll kind of announce herself with a little bit of a beep and we can just scan our badge. She opens up one of our compartments. we place the device in and then complete the transaction, and then she’s on her way.”
According to the hospital, Moxie and another robot make 1,800 deliveries a month. That translates into about 3,100 hours of time saved for humans.
Sound: “it leaves a lot more time for us to be able to focus on the patient and focus on what’s going on and not be distracted by leaving the floor.”
But there’s one important thing Moxie doesn’t do – interact with patients.
Sound: “we’re not relying on Moxie to interact with patients. That’s still our privilege and honor. So we get to spend more time with them.”
So far, there are a couple dozen of these robots deployed at hospitals across the country, with more on the way.
Conclusion
That’s it for today but you can learn more about the challenges facing TikTok on our website, noticenews.com. I’ll be back tomorrow with more from us, Notice News.