Social Media

University of Texas at Austin blocked access to the social media app TikTok on its WiFi networks this week, and while some students found the move a little bit frivolous, others said they were OK or happy with it.

In a unanimous vote this week, Cleveland County commissioners opted to ban TikTok from all county-owned devices. The move closely follows a Dec. 8 executive order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

TikTok videos documenting the recruiting process of fraternities and sororities have become a staple of Greek life on some college campuses, but this might not last if more states ban the China-based app.

Following Gov. Greg Abbott's order banning state employees from using TikTok on government-issued devices, more universities are taking action, citing fears that the Chinese government is harvesting customers' data.

State of Ohio employees are no longer allowed to download or use TikTok or a number of other Chinese-owned apps on state-owned devices for security reasons, under an executive order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Across the country, health officials have been trying to combat misinformation and restore trust within their communities. Data suggests that the misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines now threatens other public health priorities.

A bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy would require K-12 students to receive digital literacy training at all public schools. The move is part of an effort to combat online misinformation.

The app, which presents short-form videos in a frantic endless scroll, is governed by algorithms that deliver posts to those deemed likely to enjoy them, even as the app’s parent company continues to raise concerns.

Having already ordered the app purged from state devices and networks due to cybersecurity and surveillance concerns, Montana's Gov. Greg Gianforte is asking the Board of Regents to do the same for the state's universities.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order banning use of TikTok by executive branch agencies, boards and commissions has local government leaders evaluating their use of the social media platform.

The University of Oklahoma banned the app Tuesday, and Oklahoma State University took less than 24 hours to follow suit. The ban complies with an executive order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

At least 18 states have banned staffers’ use on government devices of the social media app TikTok over concerns about the possible security risks posed by the Chinese-owned company.

A TikTok ban on state-issued devices is already in place in most areas of state government, and Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday he will introduce a bill next month to include the ban for all entities related to the state.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice put the brakes on an effort to ban TikTok on state-issued devices Monday, saying the state's current cybersecurity measures already block the social media app on state networks.

The U.S. government regulates many industries, but social media companies don’t neatly fit existing regulatory templates. Systems that deliver energy may be the closest analog.

TikTok, the popular social video platform owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has been banned on government-owned devices in several states for security concerns. The latest governors to ban it are in Michigan, Nevada and Arizona.

Rep. Jared Patterson has introduced legislation aimed at keeping everyone under the age of 18 off of social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. The bill is the state's latest attempt to reduce the power tech companies wield.

In a U.S. Supreme Court filing on Wednesday night, the Justice Department argued that social media websites should be held responsible for some of the ways their algorithms decide what content to put in front of users.