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Montana Banned TikTok. Now What?

Montana is the first state to ban the Chinese-owned social media app—what kind of example could it set for the rest of the country?

Pocket Editors

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TikTok is one of America’s most popular social media apps, especially adored by Gen Zers, who use it to share funny memes, create elaborate dances, discuss politics, dabble in activism, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And yet the app, which is owned by Chinese parent company Bytedance, is currently at risk of being banned in the U.S., with Montana being the first state to do so.

Critics argue that TikTok is a security threat, sophisticated spyware masquerading as a harmless social media site. The app’s defenders argue that it encourages self-expression, creates meaningful opportunities for connection, and can help entrepreneurs build businesses. Many are also concerned that the TikTok bans are overly broad, and could set a dangerous precedent for the future of the internet. Ultimately, where you fall in the debate might depend on whether or not you’re a regular TikTok user.

Read on to explore TikTok’s rise in popularity and how it got on the wrong side of Washington, what’s at stake, and why the debate is about more than just the social media platform.

Image by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

What Does Montana’s TikTok Ban Say?

The law will take effect in January 2024 unless TikTok is sold — or a court blocks the rule.

Montana Can Ban TikTok, But It Probably Can’t Enforce It

Tech experts said the first-in-the-nation law is ‘technically incompetent’ and would require more data-gathering by companies, not less.

Which Countries Have Banned TikTok?

A growing list of nations and government bodies are taking action against the app.

Why TikTok Faces Bans in the U.S.

TikTok is the most popular app in the United States. 150 million Americans – almost half the population – use it every month.

How TikTok Went From Teen Sensation To Political Pariah

In the seven years since TikTok was born as lip-syncing app for Chinese teens, the platform has reshaped the media landscape — forcing U.S. tech giants to reckon with a foreign rival.

What Just About Everyone Is Getting Wrong About Banning TikTok

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew underwent an experience familiar to many tech executives: getting heat in front of Congress. Unique to TikTok, however, was that some politicians used the hearing to argue for a complete ban of the platform in the United States. Rep.

Yes, of Course We Should Ban TikTok

Biden and Congress are both attempting to do what Trump tried and failed to do: force TikTok, the Chinese-owned video app, to shut down its U.S. operations unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells it to a U.S. company.

For Some, TikTok Is a Path to Riches and the American Dream. With a Ban, It Could All Disappear.

When Lauren Wyman felt crushed under the weight of her corporate finance job in 2019, she found solace in launching a small goth and alternative clothing business.