The Future of TikTok: What the recent bans mean for students
Public universities across the U.S. are taking action against TikTok – banning the popular platform on campus wifi networks and school-owned devices.
Schools such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M are two of the latest to implement the “TikTok ban” in response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott banning the app on all government devices this past December. This ban comes from privacy concerns and fear of data being obtained.
Despite these bans, TikTok remains the #1 app in the charts – making it the most downloaded mobile app worldwide.
So what does this ban mean for students?
Tell me more about the bans on TikTok
The TikTok ban caught fire when the Biden administration banned it from government devices in December over scrutiny of TikTok’s owner, ByteDance. Now, universities across the nation are following suit with public colleges in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas banning the app. According to the universities, they are taking these precautions to protect student data, research data, and personal data.
The University of Texas Advisor for Technology Strategy Jeff Neyland shared that “The university is taking these important steps to eliminate risks to the information contained in the university’s network and to our critical infrastructure.”
What did TikTok have to say?
“We’re disappointed that so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity in their states and are based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok,” said Jamal Brown, a spokesperson for the platform. “We’re especially sorry to see the unintended consequences of these rushed policies beginning to impact universities’ ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more.”
With 67 percent of U.S. teens saying that they use TikTok, many are wondering how this ban is impacting students and what they think about it.
What students think about the TikTok bans
When it comes to how students feel about the ban – they aren’t too worried. With the power of VPNs or cellular service, they are still able to access the platform, whether or not a ban exists.
Muturi Mwangi, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, uses TikTok daily. When asked about the ban, he says he plans to continue using the app by VPNs or virtual private networks – as he did in high school. VPNs are popular for students to get around school-blocked apps, such as TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram.
Students can download many free VPN tools to download a VPN. Check out this site for more information on what a VPN is and how students use it.
Skylur, a sophomore at the school, agrees with the TikTok ban. She said, “I honestly have zero issues with it. It has been hard to talk to anyone because their phones are glued to their face.”
TSI’s Take
Whether or not students are for or against the ban, it’s important to be aware of how companies are using our private data and information. In our #WinAtSocial Lesson, Protect Your Privacy Like You’re Famous, Examining How Free Apps and Websites Use Our Personal Data, we help students understand how companies use their data and how to update their privacy settings for apps and devices. You can help your students protect their privacy by encouraging them to always be mindful of the information they share online.
Looking for more strategies on how to equip your students to protect their privacy as they navigate social media and tech? Contact us today for a personalized demo!
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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.