Montana Becomes The First US State To Officially Ban TikTok

In a recent development, Montana became the first state in the U.S. to officially ban TikTok, effective immediately from January 1st, 2024. Over 150 million American users use TikTok, and there have been growing concerns from U.S. lawmakers to ban the app altogether because of the potential influence of the Chinese government on TikTok.

While it has brought more awareness and concern about how users’ data is collected and used on social media, it doesn’t help when looking at the bigger picture. Banning TikTok isn’t the solution to the continuing issue of user privacy and security online. 

This ban comes in the wake of increased tensions between the U.S. and China, and since Chinese tech company ByteDance owns TikTok, the app has faced criticism for allegedly collecting data on users and whether the Chinese government has access to it.

Montana will make TikTok illegal to download from January 1st, 2024. Any entity that makes it accessible for download must pay a penalty fee of $10,000 daily. The Apple & Google Play Stores are also not permitted to give access to the app to users for download. The individuals who download it will not get charged.

In response, TikTok sued Montana, deeming the ban unconstitutional, saying that TikTok is the only app getting singled out as punishment for allegedly collecting data. Still, it’s the same as the data that gets collected by other apps as well.

For now, however, it remains to be seen whether this ban will get implemented. The reality is that people can easily use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access TikTok should TikTok get banned from Montana. What will the state do then?

Banning Doesn’t Fix The Core Issue of Data Privacy

Even if there’s a ban on TikTok, it doesn’t fix anything. Users will turn to other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and even Google, which are notorious for collecting user’s data and selling them to third parties and advertisers. 

The core issue of data privacy goes beyond a TikTok ban and will persist in the digital era. If governments and authorities are concerned about users’ data and privacy, they must address these issues across all social media platforms.

How To Unblock TikTok Using VPN

Since anything can happen, and we have seen TikTok getting banned in countries like India, it’s good to be prepared if TikTok gets blocked.

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. That means no third party has information about your online activities or location. The data transmitted between your device and the VPN server is routed through a secure VPN tunnel.

There are various ways through which countries block TikTok. Some countries, such as China, prohibit access to TikTok servers, making them unusable. India has blocked access to TikTok from the Google and Apple Play stores. 

If you find that your ISP has blocked access to TikTok, these are the following steps you can take:

1. Download and install AstrillVPN to your device. 
2. Open the VPN and choose a server location where TikTok isn’t banned.
3. Connect to the VPN.
4. Start using TikTok without any restrictions. 

Not all VPNs can fulfill your requirements to have a seamless experience. To start using TikTok when it’s banned in your country, you need to invest in a VPN that meets the following requirements: 

• Servers: You should opt for a VPN that has a diverse range of servers. When you choose a server closer to your location, you lower your connection’s latency, leading to excellent performance. 
• Speed: TikTok videos are short and crisp, so you don’t necessarily need fast internet speed to watch those videos. However, for a seamless watching experience, you will need to invest in a VPN that has a decent speed.
• Security & Privacy: The user’s safety should be at the forefront regarding the digital space. AstrillVPN offers 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, a No-Logs policy, and DNS Leak Protection, the most recommended security features for VPNs.
• Unblocking: You may want to go beyond TikTok at some point. You would like to gain access to streaming services such as Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+ that aren’t able in all regions of the world. AstrillVPN has good unblocking capabilities, allowing you to bypass geo-location restrictions.

Parting Words

Given the rising tensions between the U.S. and China, TikTok could be banned in the United States. We have seen how TikTok has gotten banned in countries like India, so anything is possible now. By using a VPN, you can access TikTok easily without worrying about it not being accessible in your country.