Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a Digital Bill of Rights on Feb. 15, which would ban the use of TikTok in public universities. Twenty-five states, including Florida, have already banned the app from state computers and phones.
Bans stem from public security fears that the app, which is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, could be used to steal information and data from Americans.
The app is able to gather information on usage of the technologies, including contacts, voices, images, user location, microphone and camera.
According to Brandon Hensler, executive director for the Division of Public Relations, Marketing and Creative Services, NSU has no plans at the moment to ban TikTok.
“The university does not currently have a policy or recommendation on TikTok like what is being mentioned at other universities,” wrote Hensler
in an email to Student Media. “As we monitor the evolving situation and if any decisions are made, we will be sure to be open and transparent with those decisions with the NSU community.”
Some NSU students are against the idea of banning the app, citing it as pointless to remove something that many students use for entertainment and information.
“I think that TikTok is a social media that helps us meet new people and to be aware of, like, the environment and society,” said Kevin Liang, sophomore business management major.
Yet, others believe the ban on TikTok would be beneficial to the university, as it would protect the information of students and the school along with increasing focus in class.
“Even though I use it so much, I think that it would be good if Nova did it,” said Yann Philipps, freshman, finance major. “I definitely think that TikTok listens.”
Meanwhile, pressured from statewide entities, more than 20 state universities, such as Texas A&M, have made the decision to ban the app entirely from their networks. Breaches in security could lead to schools losing funding or being sued.
University of Florida is one of the first institutions in Florida to suggest that students remove TikTok from their devices.
Elias Eldayrie, vice president and chief information officer at University of Florida, shared in a public statement how the university will move forward.
“As the university considers additional future steps, we strongly recommend that everyone discontinue using TikTok and remove the app from their devices,” wrote Eldayrie.
“Taking this action will help protect your personal information as well as university data.”
Marcus Delaney, freshman mechanical engineering major at the University of Florida, is against the decision.
“They are concerned about our privacy, but then they have the audacity to try and control what we see or do on our phones, and I do not think it is fair,” said Delaney.
Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has also introduced a bill with the intention of implementing a nationwide ban on TikTok, claiming health and security concerns for children.
“[TikTok] is China’s backdoor into Americans’ lives. It threatens our children’s privacy as well as their mental health,” Hawley tweeted. “Last month Congress banned it on all government devices. Now I will introduce legislation to ban it nationwide.”
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