How many colleges and universities are blocking TikTok?

How might rising US-China tensions impact higher education?

This month we’re seeing developments on one small aspect of that larger question. Interest in blocking hit video app TikTok has been cropping up in the United States. Fifteen states now prohibit state staff from using the app, by the New York Times’ count. At least one national bill is before Congress. Now such bans have started to appear in higher education, in at least four states.

While each academic instance I’ve found follows the same general idea, different institutions and states offer some differences in details. For example, we can start with Alabama. After that state’s governor banned public officials from using TikTok, Auburn University is complying.

On Wednesday, Seth Humphrey, an IT manager of service delivery at Auburn University, sent a notice that TikTok users would not be able to access the app on university WiFi or on-campus housing.

The university last posted to TikTok on its official account on Dec. 2.

Rebecca Griesbach adds: “It’s not clear what the memo might mean for popular university, athletics and influencer accounts across the state.”

Now, the Auburn IT link in that article leads to a very quiet and small note, as of this writing. Rather than stating a ban, it reads: “Auburn is monitoring the developments related to accessing TikTok and will provide information as we receive it. Check back later for more…