UK TikTokers have spoken of their fears, concerns and pleas as a US state has put a ban on the app. Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte signed legislation this week that prohibits the hugely popular Chinese-owned social media platform from appearing on certain websites in the state.
It comes as there have been growing tensions between US states and TikTok, with scrutiny over its ties to the Chinese Government over recent years. Now, the state of Montana is set to make it unlawful for TikTok to appear in Google and Apple's app stores, but will not hand out sanctions to individuals using the app.
The ban will take effect on January 1, 2024, but will likely face strong legal challenges in the meantime. Before the legislation was signed, TikTok issued a statement saying that the new law "infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok."
It added that it will "continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana." The federal US Government and more than half of states have banned the app on Government devices, while the Biden administration has threatened a sweeping national block unless TikTok's parent company sells its shares.
At a bipartisan congressional hearing held in March, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, defended his company's ties with China while also being asked about the app's impact on the mental health of its young users.
UK TikTokers react to ban
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis asked followers on Twitter: "How would you feel about the UK outlawing personal use of hugely popular social media site Tiktok for security reasons? The BBC reports a law to ban it from 1 Jan has been passed in US state Montana to 'protect Montanans from communist party surveillance'."
Iwiizkiid replied: "I don't think a flat-out ban would be wise or necessary but I do think that it should be controlled/restricted in certain environments, for example, block it in schools, and block it in sensitive organisations. In general, cyber awareness and training is a good idea."
Topherdom added: "Ban it. But not for security. But for the health and well being of children using it." MiphaUK argued: "If you ban it for surveillance, then surely other social media should be banned as well."
However, UKFilmTVCritic had a different take: "TikTok is new competition for the other platforms. Less lumpy with better content. The other platforms are acting in a Anti Competitive way, deliberately stifling any competition."
TanujWhitley urged lawmakers to reassess: "It sets a dangerous precedent banning just one app. Why not instead make laws that prescribe how the app can or can't operate (eg what can be collected)."
Blindsart1 suggested: "Even if tiktok gets banned there’ll literally be another site that’ll pop up anyways. We had vine, we now have tiktok, and we’ll have something else later on…"
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UK ban on TikTok
The US is far from the only country who have banned the app on government devices, with the UK, Canada and the European Commission all having their own blocks. Now, the fear for many in the UK is that the ban could be extended to millions of everyday users.
After the UK Government banned the app on their devices, TikTok replied: "We believe these bans have been based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics, in which TikTok, and our millions of users in the UK, play no part."
