As the US government considers banning TikTok, many US users are migrating to RedNote, a popular Chinese social media platform. The trend is characterized by lighthearted exchanges and a genuine desire to connect with Chinese users despite the language barrier.
Instead of wallowing in misery about potentially losing access to their favorite short-form video app, many TikTokers are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media platform also called Xiaohongshu. I’ve decided to spend some time on the platform myself, and it looks like so-called “TikTok refugees” are excited about interacting with a community mainly comprised of Chinese-speaking users — and vice versa.
Launched in 2013 as a shopping platform, RedNote has grown into one of China’s most popular social apps featuring photos, videos, and written content. Now it’s seeing another spike in users from another part of the globe, with more than 700,000 users joining RedNote in just two days, according to a report from Reuters. The number is still small, at just a fraction of the 150 million Americans TikTok reported were already using the app in early 2023. As noted by CNN, the name Xiaohongshu translates to “little red book,” which “could be seen as a tongue-in-cheek reference to a red-covered book of quotations from the founding father of Communist China, Mao Zedong.” Many US users seem to be using the Chinese platform out of spite of the US government’s plan to ban TikTok — but in a deeply unserious way. Amongst all the Chinese-language posts depicting sleek fit checks, mouthwatering food videos, and memes I don’t quite understand yet, is content from TikTok expats. Many joke about their sudden appearance on the app, with one user wondering what Chinese users might think after seeing an influx of US-based users and another showing their gradual transformation from a gun-wielding, Buc-ee’s merch-wearing American into a Chinese-speaking RedNote user. Others are simply saying “hello” to their new community — some of whom have written captions in what I’d assume is machine-translated Chinese. Even more interesting though, are all the RedNote users welcoming TikTokers with open arms. Several RedNote users are eager to introduce the app while also sharing some tips and tricks on how to navigate it. One creator says, “now’s the perfect time to dive into Chinese culture” through RedNote with the Chinese New Year coming up, adding that users on the platform are “obsessed with Luigi, Trump, and Squid Game.” Some even offer to teach their new community members Chinese. But many TikTokers are equally curious about RedNote users in China, too. “Chinese friends, post pictures of your meal or snacks for today! Curious to see what you typically eat,” one user writes. Another asks, “I’m American. Do y’all like us? We know y’all not the enemy. Can we all be friends?” The trend is actually kind of wholesome, and I’m here for it, but I’m not confident it will actually last. If these apps grow in popularity, they could potentially face a ban, too. But the migration to RedNote is likely just a trend — and trends only last as long as it takes for another to replace it
Rednote Tiktok Social Media China US Ban Migration Chinese Culture
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TikTok users flock to Chinese-owned RedNote as ban loomsPolitical News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government
Read more »
Users flock to Chinese Xiaohongshu, or 'RedNote,' with TikTok ban loomingAs the threat of a TikTok ban looms, some U.S. TikTok users are flocking to Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. The self-described “TikTok refugees” landed on Xiaohongshu as an alternative to TikTok.
Read more »
TikTok Refugees Flock to RedNote as US Ban LoomsAmidst the potential US ban of TikTok, users are migrating to RedNote, a Chinese lifestyle app, as a form of protest against government censorship. The influx of American users is creating a unique cross-cultural exchange with the app's existing Chinese user base.
Read more »
RedNote: Chinese TikTok alternative tops app charts ahead of banKalhan Rosenblatt is a reporter covering youth and internet culture for NBC News, based in New York.
Read more »
Chinese social media app RedNote is the number one app as TikTok ban loomsKarissa is a senior reporter at Engadget, covering Meta, Twitter, TikTok, Snap and all things social media. Her interests include tech policy, internet culture, and all the ways our online activities shape our IRL selves.
Read more »
Chinese social media app RedNote tops App Store chart ahead of TikTok banRedNote, a Chinese social media app also known as Xiaohongshu, has topped the Apple App Store as users prepare for a potential TikTok ban.
Read more »