There are many steps universities can take to keep students safe, but it looks like TikTok will be a big focus for universities in 2023.
Many US schools have announced that TikTok is banned from government-issued devices. These days, the school also restricts access to the platform on her WiFi and internet networks. This is a devastating move for a college student who uses her TikTok for content creation. .
This comes as more than 30 states have issued various TikTok bans and Congress has banned TikTok from most government-issued devices. This is all due to fears that TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese-owned ByteDance, will collect data from users’ devices and give it to the Chinese. government. In an earlier example, the governor wrote an order requiring her TikTok to be blocked on government devices in that state. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s December 7 Directive(opens in new window) — This includes state universities. But some colleges have opted to ban the app only on government-owned devices, while others have called for a ban on TikTok while on his college WiFi. Most bans don’t go that far. Require students to remove the app from their devices(opens in new window).
“We believe the concerns driving these decisions are largely fueled by misinformation about our company.” TikTok told ABC News in a statement(opens in new window) In response to a ban from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “We are pleased to continue to have constructive meetings with state policymakers to discuss privacy and security practices.Many state agencies, offices and universities are using TikTok to We are disappointed that we will no longer be able to build community and connect with voters.”
Here are all the colleges that have announced bans on TikTok:
TikTok admits spying on US users as efforts to ban app heat up
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University of Texas at Austin
Jeff Neiland, Advisor to the Dean of Technology Strategy at the University of Texas at Austin, said: In a January 17th blog post I wrote(opens in new window) That UT Austin blocked TikTok access on its network. This is in response to Abbott’s mandate requiring all state agencies to eliminate her use of TikTok on government networks and government-issued devices.
“Recently, UT Austin began the process of removing TikTok from all government-issued devices, including university-issued phones, laptops, tablets and desktop computers,” wrote Neyland. “Today, the university blocked his TikTok access on our network. He can no longer access TikTok from any device when connected to the university via a wired or WIFI network.”
University of Texas at Dallas
In a press release by Frank Feagans, UT Dallas’ vice president of information technology and chief information officer, and Nate Howe, UT Dallas’ chief information security officer, UT Dallas officials said the TikTok ban was based on Abbott’s Texas Condemned state orders.
“To comply with this order, UT Dallas began removing TikTok software from all university-owned computing devices on December 21.” According to the press release(opens in new window)“At 5pm today, UT Dallas will take additional steps to block access to TikTok on all devices connected to wired and WiFi networks.”
Texas A&M
Texas A&M has also taken steps to restrict access to TikTok on campus.school told ABC News(opens in new window) Universities are working to block access to TikTok on all state-owned devices and from Wi-Fi networks.
“[W]We are implementing network-based filtering that blocks both wireless and wired access to download or access apps from the campus network. This means students, faculty, and visitors will not be able to use the app when connected. to the A&M network System spokesperson Raylan Copelin said: texas tribune(opens in new window).
West Texas A&M University
In response to Abbott’s TikTok ban, West Texas A&M University has banned TikTok on all university-owned devices, but personal devices are not affected at this time. The university wrote in a press release(opens in new window).
University of Houston System
The entire University of Houston system also bans TikTok on government-owned devices.
“The University of Houston has immediately suspended activity on all university-controlled TikTok accounts following the governor’s order last month.” According to local news outlet ABC13, the University of Houston said in a letter to everyone in the system:(opens in new window)“The UHS information security team scanned over 20,000 university-owned devices across the UH system and the app was removed from six devices. I haven’t made any changes.
Texas Tech University System
Also the Texas Tech University system which joins most other colleges in Texas Ban TikTok on your device(opens in new window)University personnel in the system are not allowed to use TikTok on school-issued devices. They have also called for the official university TikTok account to be disabled, but “not delete or relinquish account handles/names;(opens in new window)“Don’t let anyone else use your name.
TikTok users hold university accounts hostage
Langston University
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order on December 8 banning TikTok from state-issued devices, citing privacy concerns about the app. In response, Oklahoma’s Langston University announced that TikTok would not only be banned from school-issued devices, but would also be blocked on wired and wireless networks. Local news station KOCO reported(opens in new window).
University of Oklahoma
Also, following Stitt’s executive order, the University of Oklahoma has banned TikTok. Local News Station KFOR(opens in new window) reported that all employees and students were unable to access TikTok on university-owned or operated devices, including the university’s wired and wireless networks.
Northeastern State University
Stitt’s executive order also extended to Northeastern State University. All employees, departments and student organizations, I’ve been asked to remove TikTok from university-owned devices(opens in new window) — and delete the school’s TikTok account.
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University, following Stitt’s Executive Order, block access(opens in new window) to TikTok on university-owned devices and their wired and wireless networks.
South Dakota University System
South Dakota Governor Christy Noem issued an executive order banning the use of TikTok on state-owned devices. In response, the South Dakota State Board of Trustees, the board responsible for his six colleges in South Dakota, said all colleges would follow TikTok’s ban on the state’s devices, and state colleges would be forced to ban his TikTok accounts they own. I said it should be removed.so Email statement to NBC News(opens in new window)a spokesman for the South Dakota Board of Governors said, “The ban will not affect students or student organizations on campus.”
Auburn University
Alabama bans use of TikTok on state networks and devices(opens in new window)so of course Auburn University in Alabama also had to ban the app from its on-campus WiFi network.
All 26 Colleges and Colleges in the University of Georgia System
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Bans Use of TikTok on Government-Issued Phones(opens in new window) In response, the entire University of Georgia system banned the use of TikTok on state-owned devices. Whether a student will be able to use the app over her WiFi at the University of Georgia remains to be seen.
Arkansas Tech University
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson issued an executive order banning TikTok(opens in new window) State-issued devices and networks, and current Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, continued to command even after she was elected.
Director of University Relations, Arkansas Tech said: Local news station THV11(opens in new window) Cannot use TikTok on university-owned devices or school WiFi. The university’s official TikTok account is also no longer in use.
Arkansas State University
In response to the governor’s ban, Arkansas State University has also banned TikTok on university-owned devices and school WiFi.
“Everyone is moving away from WiFi, just like nobody is connected to WiFi.” ASU freshman Jackson Roddy told local news station ABC7.(opens in new window)“Some people are switching phone plans like unlimited.”
University of Florida (like)
Florida has not banned the app statewide, but the Florida Department of Financial Services has banned employees from using TikTok on department-issued devices. are discouraged from using TikTok. According to an email sent to students by the University of Florida’s vice president and chief information officer,(opens in new window)There is no strict ban yet.
Boise State University
in response to Idaho Governor Brad Little Bans TikTok(opens in new window) Boise State University has banned the use of the app from state-issued devices and networks.
“The Department of Information Technology will also block access to TikTok from all university networks,” read a press release from the school. can be accessed by
Idaho State University
After Little’s TikTok ban, Idaho State University also bans TikTok(opens in new window) On all university-owned devices and WiFi networks.
University of Idaho
Little’s ban continued to affect the University of Idaho(opens in new window)also banned TikTok on university-owned devices and WiFi networks.
All Iowa Public Universities
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has banned the use of TikTok on state-owned devices and prohibited state agencies from owning TikTok accounts. In response to, Iowa State Board(opens in new window) — which controls all state universities in Iowa — has instructed all public universities in Iowa to remove TikTok from school-owned devices and has banned official university TikTok accounts.
All 16 schools in the University of Montana system
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte requires TikTok on state-owned devices and, in response, all schools within the University of Montana system to remove TikTok from university-owned devices. User can’t access the site even on his wifi at school. According to the Montana Free Press(opens in new window).
This is a work in progress. As more information becomes available, it will be shared.