4 Reasons Why Trump Should Ban TikTok

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As of August 5, 2020, President Trump announced that he would ban TikTok and WeChat from the U.S. market via executive orders.

There’s been a lot of buzz about this decision, but Trump hasn’t been particularly clear about why he’s made this move.

Let’s go over the reasons we think are most logical:

4. TikTok Contains Chinese Spyware

The most surface level reason for banning TikTok is because it contains legitimate Chinese spyware. That's right, and it's not hyperbole.

While it may not be labeled as such, there are legitimate programs and lines of code that spy on users for the app and report that data straight to their Chinese corporate overseers.

But what’s the big deal? After all, don’t companies like Facebook do the same thing?

While this is largely true, the Chinese government has a bigger hand in all of its citizens’ economic enterprises compared to the US.

The fact that all this US data is lined up there for the picking for China to legally access, makes it a good idea to ban TikTok for this reason alone.

3. TikTok Allows Spying on US Citizens and Military Members

But the spying threat goes even deeper and you think about it. Through TikTok, the Chinese government has a window into American manufacturing, engineering, and military operations.

A serviceman's wife or child who is using the app will be inadvertently providing the Chinese government with data on that servicemember's movements, deployment dates, and even more.

Allowing such a blatantly observational app to remain in the hands of US citizens and military members is something that any self-respecting president cannot and should not allow.

This is a matter of national security, even if it seems a little over-the-top on its face.

2. Limiting Chinese Technology Prevents its Supremacy

There are economic reasons to ban TikTok as well. The Chinese are trying to rapidly catch up to the United States and its economic dominance.

One of the biggest avenues through which they intend to flex their economic muscles is through digital apps and computing.

By banning TikTok, Trump is limiting the power of the app and the money brought in to the Chinese economy.

This is a good thing, since China will likely be the biggest rival to the US over the next few decades.

1. This Move Limits Chinese Investors’ Power

On a related note, banning TikTok sends a clear signal to Chinese investors that have progressively been taking over American real estate and manufacturing over the last few decades.

Any American concerned about Chinese influence has undoubtedly voiced these concerns before.

In our eyes, this is almost the best benefit since it limits the economic hegemony that it is trying to extend throughout the West as it already has through the East.

All in all, it’s a good thing that Trump has decided to ban TikTok.

While some people will likely be a bit irritated now that their favorite social media app is going away, it’s a small price to pay for continued security and to ensure that China doesn’t get “too big for its britches”.