It’s a weekday night, and the 11:59 p.m. due date is drawing near.  

Instead of completing her homework, Michigan State University student Jessi Rein is scrolling through TikTok, like many other students.  

This comes following the TikTok ban at Auburn University in Alabama. According to a Jan. 21 article in the New York Times, the video-sharing app is now banned on state-owned devices and campus internet networks.  

 Students here at MSU are not concerned, including Rein, a freshman from Saline.  

“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about it at this point, just because I haven’t heard of it being banned here,” Rein said. “If students want to go on TikTok then let them.” 

This thought is echoed by MSU student Shannon Mclaren, who is a Brighton native. 

“We’re all adults and if we choose to use it in an on-campus setting, that’s our choice,” Mclaren said.  

According to the New York Times, Auburn’s ban comes following the ban of TikTok by 19 governors from state-owned devices and networks.  

Rein said an MSU ban on TikTok would be unfortunate, given the app’s popularity among college students.  

“It’s really addicting,” Rein said. “I’m on it a lot to procrastinate doing my homework. I just keep scrolling.” 

Mclaren said TikTok has helped her to create a sense of community. 

“It’s nice to know other people have similar interests,” Mclaren said. “I think that was one of the reasons TikTok got so popular.” 

Popular or not, the platform has faced a wave of bans.  

According to an article by MLive, talks of bans have started in Michigan, where Republicans from the congressional delegation sent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a letter encouraging her to impose the ban.  

Neither Whitmer, nor MSU officials have made any statements regarding a possible ban.