TikTok announced last week that it would donate $1 million each to 10 colleges serving underrepresented students. In the announcement, the social media platform giant explained that this is how the company can do its part in “helping to ensure the success of future Black, Latinx, and Indigenous health heroes.”
Institutions to receive donations include Xavier University of Louisiana, Tougaloo College, and North Carolina Central University.
“These 10 gifts are an investment in the future of the next generation of #healthheroes, who will reflect the diverse patchwork of American healthcare workers,” the post concluded.
Underrepresentation of Minorities in Health Fields
The blog explained that while Black people make up 13 percent of the US population, only four percent of US doctors and less than seven percent of US medical students self-identify as Black.
A qualitative study on the perspective of Black students in medicine also found that students cited financial constraints as one of the biggest barriers in pursuing a career in medicine.
“We believe investing in the next generation of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous doctors, nurses, pediatricians, surgeons, and other essential health care workers is one of the best ways to invest in the future of America,” it explained.
Internet Personalities and Networks Pledge to Help
TikTok is not the only social media platform to donate to the education sector. Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, and his wife donated $40 million each to Morehouse College, Spelman College, and the United Negro College Fund.
MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist and the richest woman in the world, also recently donated millions to multiple colleges and universities. It was the largest donation in the history of several of these institutions, such as Hampton University, Howard University, Tuskegee University, and Xavier University of Louisiana, which has benefitted from both Scott’s donation and Tiktok’s gift.