One of the biggest stories of 2023 was when Montana's government placed a ban on the popular Chinese-owned social media app, TikTok. Senate Bill 419 was intended to protect Montana's privacy and Governor Gianforte signed the bill in May of 2023.

Here's a pretty good description of the bill and what it prevented from a Montana creator:

 

Since May, there have been a series of events that eventually culminated in a preliminary injunction from Federal Judge Donald Molloy. Here's a brief recap:

In a story from CBS News about the preliminary injunction, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen points out that legal arguments will continue. Knudsen quoted Molloy as saying "...the analysis could change as the case proceeds and the State has the opportunity to present a full factual record."

Read More: 12 Missoula Intersections Where You May Spend the Most Time

How Does Montana Feel About TikTok?

In light of the TikTok ban proceedings potentially continuing, a new study has measured interest in the TikTok app in general. This may be surprising, or it may not be, but the numbers suggest that Montana doesn't care about TikTok.

Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Using Google search data with terms that had to do with TikTok, the company QRFY analyzed and ranked data for all 50 states and found that Montana was the second least interested state in TikTok. Wyoming was ranked as the least interested overall.

Montana had 2,439 searches per 100,000 people according to the data from QRFY. The state most interested in TikTok? California. California's search volume was more than double Montana's.

This could be related simply to the size differences in population between Montana and California (New York was ranked third most interested in TikTok, for example). But it could also be that despite the national attention our state received for its relationship with TikTok, that maybe the app isn't that influential in our state.

LOOK: 35 Vintage Cereals That Perfectly Captured Pop Culture Moments

Movies and TV shows have always found ways to partner with cereal companies as part of their promotion strategy. While some may have come up with a giveaway in boxes, others went big by having their own cereal connected to the movie or TV show title. Here are vintage cereals that were used to promote some of pop culture's biggest moments (and some you probably forgot about).

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

LOOK: Biggest snowfalls recorded in Montana history

Stacker compiled a list of the biggest 1-day snowfalls in Montana using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM