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April 21, 2023

Montana bill is the first to ban TikTok. What does this mean for students?

The Rundown 

On April 14th, 2023, Montana became the first U.S. state to pass legislation banning TikTok due to ongoing concerns regarding intellectual property, Chinese surveillance, and dangerous content that is accessible to viewers on TikTok. With 67% of U.S. students using TikTok, educators are wondering how this legislation, and potential future legislation, will affect students. 

Who are the key players in this story? 

Okay, now that we know the key players, let’s get into the bill.

Tell me more about the bill itself 

The bill, SB 419, is currently under review by Gov. Gianforte and would go into effect on January 1st, 2024 if passed. Section 1 of the bill prohibits the use of TikTok in Montana— and any person or organization that violates this section will be fined $10,000 for each violation, as well as fined an additional $10,000 each day after that violation continues. Additionally, both Apple and Google could also face penalties if Montana residents have the ability to download TikTok from their app stores. 

This bill would be the first of its kind in the United States – as no other state has banned TikTok for their residents. In a recent statement, TikTok responded to this bill and said, “We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach.”

What this means for students

As more and more students turn to TikTok for entertainment, connection, and even learning, they have expressed their thoughts on what a TikTok ban would mean for them. For students around the world, this ban might mean losing something that has become a major part of their daily lives.

Take Esther, for example, an 8th-grade student who shared that “Although I understand the perspective of TikTok being a distraction or a negative platform for students, banning TikTok is like banning somebody from a whole community that they can never see again.” TikTok being banned in individual states, and possibly nationwide, has sparked numerous opinions from students. Some see the potential benefits of a ban, some are worried about losing their source of entertainment or a creative outlet, and some have pondered the potential consequences of a ban, good and bad. 

TSI’s Take

Social media is not inherently bad for students. Like any social media app, be it Snapchat, YouTube, or in this case, TikTok, there are ways that your students can navigate the platform positively. Students use TikTok for good by expressing their creativity, connecting with friends, or learning about things they’re passionate about. They also self-manage and protect their well-being by using features like TikTok’s digital well-being tool, controlling who can or can not see their profiles, and more. 

Students have and will continue to grow up with technology and social media in their lives. As the debates around the country continue on whether or not to restrict certain social media apps, The Social Institute believes in empowering and equipping students to navigate TikTok, and other social media apps, in healthy, high-character ways, rather than taking a scare and restrict approach. 

Here are some tips to share with your students to help them use TikTok positively: 

  • Take advantage of TikTok’s digital well-being feature to help manage their screen time!
  • Block and/or report users who are cyberbullying others or spreading rumors or hate speech.
  • Change profile settings to private so that they are in control of who does or doesn’t have access to their content. 
  • Be sure to double-check the information that they see on TikTok by taking the extra step to confirm things with additional, credible sources.

Interested in how students around the country feel about a potential TikTok ban? Check out this post, where students use their voices to explain what a TikTok ban would mean for them. Always stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest trends online by subscribing to our newsletter where we talk about trending tech and social media news weekly! In the meantime, check out our Instagram and TikTok @thesocialinst for tips, trends, and highlights when it comes to social media. 

The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.