Why Is TikTok A Privacy Concern In K-12 Schools?

The popular social media app TikTok has faced heavy scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers after rising in popularity across the country, specifically within younger age groups.

As of April of 2023, 34 U.S. states have enacted some form of ban on the app.* Montana was the first state to pass a total ban on the app, prohibiting anyone within state lines from using the app.

Many other states have blocked access to the app on government-owned devices and several public Universities prevent access while using school-provided Wi-Fi.

For so much time and effort to be put into preventing access to a single app begs the question, why is TikTok a privacy concern in K-12 schools?

*Sources: CBS News Miami, Today

While several outlandish “challenges” have originated from TikTok, that isn’t what’s motivating schools to seek bans on the app. The ultra-precise GPS tracking data the app mines from users is one of the biggest reasons schools are looking to ban the app, as well as the fact that it’s possible for the app to pull facial and voice recognition data from users.

While many public Universities can make their own decisions on whether to allow the app, most K-12 schools will follow guidelines set on the state level. And with 34 states currently in the process of or already blocking the app in some way, there are thousands of schools who must setup their network to be in compliance.

To meet state guidelines, K-12 schools across the country are blocking access to TikTok on their networks.

Many schools are turning to cybersecurity experts like Ericom to help prevent students, faculty, and staff from accessing the app while connected to school-provided internet.

By partnering with Ericom, we can provide the ability to enforce acceptable use policies and block access to specific websites and apps, including TikTok as an integration included with our 5G & LTE solutions that we already provide.

If your network is already set up but lacks the content filtering capabilities you need, we can also provide cybersecurity solutions as a stand alone service.