TikTok Ban: US Schools Act to Ban TikTok From Campus Devices Amidst Data Privacy Concerns

Several schools in select states in the US have started banning the video streaming app Tiktok on campus-owned devices and networks.

TikTok was removed from government devices by the Biden administration in a law signed at the end of December. Now, in a similar move, numerous school institutions have recently restricted access to TikTok on campus computers, mobile devices, and Wi-Fi.

Many public institutions have already blocked access to the service on their campuses in an effort to comply with the law, which has angered some students.

However, despite the ban, Inside Highered reports that most students remain uninterested and unaffected. Students can quickly and easily switch from campus Wi-Fi to their personal cellular connection on a smartphone to continue watching TikTok's never-ending stream of material.

What Is the Reason for the US Schools TikTok Ban?

According to TechCrunch, Governors have used cybersecurity issues and concerns about Chinese espionage to justify the limitations. States like Maryland banned the app and other Chinese and Russian products on December 6, 2022, after an NBC News investigation revealed that a state-sponsored hacking group had stolen millions in unemployment benefits from the US.

On Dec. 13, a few days later, American lawmakers To outlaw TikTok on the federal level, the House and Senate jointly presented a measure. Additionally, legislation to restrict the app on government-owned devices has been put forth in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont.

Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, was alarmed by TikTok's capacity to collect user data and its potential to propagate Chinese state influence activities. With the help of cellular data and VPNs, students can simply get around the TikTok bans that are taking over college campuses around the country.

"All of these things are in the hands of a government that doesn't share our values and that has a mission that's very much at odds with what's in the best interests of the United States," Wray said. "That should concern us."

Although the majority of school TikTok bans are essentially the same, several colleges are attempting to determine the most effective ways to put them into place while reducing the bad effects on students and teachers, considering that many student organizations use Tiktok to advertise their clubs' activities and events.

US Schools Implementing TikTok Ban

As of writing, here is the list of US schools and universities that have imposed the Tiktok ban, according to NBC:

Alabama

• Auburn University
  • Date announced: December 13, 2022

Arkansas

• Arkansas State University
  • Date announced: Jan. 18

Florida

• University of Florida
  • Date announced: Jan. 12

Georgia

• The University System of Georgia
  • Date announced: December 20, 2022

Idaho

• Boise State University
  • Date announced: Dec. 20, 2022
• Idaho State University
  • Date announced: December 20, 2022
• University of Idaho
  • Date announced: December 21, 2022

Iowa

• Iowa Public Universities
  • Date announced: December 15, 2022

Montana

• Montana University System
  • Date announced: Jan. 15, 2023

Oklahoma

• Northeastern State University
  • Date announced: December 9, 2022
• Oklahoma State University
  • Date announced: December 21, 2022
• University of Oklahoma
  • Date announced: December 20, 2022

South Dakota

• South Dakota University System
  • Date announced: December 8, 2022

Texas

• Texas A&M University
  • Date announced: Jan. 17
• West Texas A&M University
  • Date announced: December 13, 2022
• University of Texas - Austin
  • Date announced: Jan. 17.
• University of Houston System
• • Date announced: December. 9, 2022
• Texas Tech University System
  • Date announced: December. 12, 2022