POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Montana issued a complete ban of TikTok, is Utah next?

May 19, 2023, 8:00 PM

tiktok logo is shown, kids' social media use is under scrutiny from health officials...

FILE - The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the TikTok home screen, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Boston. Montana became the first state in the country to ban TikTok. Dave and Dujanovic discuss if Utah will be the next state to do the same. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

SALT LAKE CITY — Earlier this week, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a piece of legislation that will ban TikTok from his state. 

It’s the first state in the nation to issue a complete ban of the social media platform. Late last year, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox ordered a ban of TikTok from all state-owned devices

So what’s next? Or, who’s next? On Thursday, Debbie Dujanovic and guest host Taylor Morgan discussed on Dave & Dujanovic if Utah is the next state to follow Montana’s lead.

Earl Foote, an IT expert with Nexus IT, joined the show to share some insight on what may happen next.

Montana TikTok ban is a complicated issue

Dujanovic begins the conversation by asking, “Do you agree with what the governor said here out of Montana that the Chinese Communist Party is using TikTok to spy on Americans?”

“Very, very complicated issue here,” Foote said. “There’s a lot of consideration certainly … Simply passing one of these laws does not mean it’s all going to work overnight. There’s a lot of work to be done behind the scenes to actually implement something like this.”

Foote says that he does agree with the Montana governor and that TikTok is being used by the Chinese. 

Ways to get around the ban

Even if a ban does come to Utah, Foote says, without getting into specifics, there are ways to get around it.

“There absolutely are workarounds,” he said.

However, Foote says some of these workarounds can be used for malicious purposes. He did say some workarounds are easier than others.

“Just because a state bans a social media app doesn’t mean our kids won’t be able to download it or access it through other means,” Dujanovic said. 

“I would say most youth or 20-something understand what a VPN app is and know how to use it,” Foote said. “So, it’s definitely not a guarantee.”

A VPN makes the device appear it is operating from a different location than where it actually is, Dujanovic said.

Listen to the entire segment.

 

Read more:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Politics + Government

Rep Phil Lyman shown, lyman dei comments came under scrutiny...

Emma Keddington

Rep. Phil Lyman defends post correlating DEI policies with Baltimore bridge collapse

Rep. Phil Lyman is defending a post made Tuesday, that said Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies had something to do with the Baltimore bridge collapse. 

22 hours ago

Former senator Joseph Lieberman...

Jake Tapper, CNN

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman dies at 82

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee and Sen. Joe Lieberman has died, according to a statement from his family.

2 days ago

rep phil lyman shown, he made comments about the bridge collapse in maryland...

Heather Peterson

LISTEN: Utah Rep. Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on DEI

Rep. Phil Lyman said the bridge collapse is because of "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens."

3 days ago

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in...

MARK SHERMAN

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used pill

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for bans or severe restrictions on abortion in many Republican-led states, abortion opponents on Tuesday will ask the high court to ratify a ruling from a conservative federal appeals court that would limit access to the medication mifepristone, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States last year.

3 days ago

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Oct. 14, 2022. Instagram has star...

Associated Press

New Instagram feature limits display of political content

Instagram has started an automatic clamp down on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds.

4 days ago

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...

Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Kristin Wilson, CNN

Marjorie Taylor Greene files surprise motion to oust Speaker Johnson, a sign of growing revolt from the right

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion, seeking to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Montana issued a complete ban of TikTok, is Utah next?