Many TikTokers would likely rather wallow in the sadness of losing access to their favorite short-form video app. Coming to RedNoteA Chinese social media platform also known as Xiaohongshu. I decided to spend some time on the platform myself, and it seems that so-called “TikTok refugees” are excited to interact with a community comprised of predominantly Chinese-speaking users – and vice versa.
Launched in 2013 as a shopping platform, RedNote has become China's most popular social app offering photos, videos and written content. Now it is seeing another surge in users from other parts of the world, with over 700,000 users joining RedNote in just two days. According to a report by reutersThis number is still small, just a fraction 150 million us tiktok It is reported that they were using the app as early as 2023.
As CNN noted, The name Xiaohongshu translates to “little red book”, which can be seen as “a tongue-in-cheek reference to a red-covered book of quotes by Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China.” Despite US government planning to ban TikTok, many US users are using the Chinese platform – but in a very non-serious way,
Among all the Chinese-language posts depicting fascinating fit checks, mouth-watering food videos and memes, what I have yet to understand is the content of TikTok migrants. Many people make fun of his sudden appearance on the app a user Wondering what Chinese users will think after seeing the influx of US based users showing another His gradual transformation from gun-wielding, Buc-ee's merchandise-wearing American to Chinese-speaking Rednote user. there are others just say “hello” To my new community – some of whom have written captions that I assume are machine-translated Chinese.
What's even more interesting, however, is that all RedNote users are welcoming TikTokers with open arms. Many RedNote users are eager to introduce the app as well as share some tips and tricks on how to navigate it. “Now is the perfect time to dive into Chinese culture” via Rednote With Chinese New Year coming up, one creator says, adding that users on the platform are “obsessed with Luigi, Trump, and squid gameSome people even offer to teach Chinese to their new community members.
But many TikTokers are equally curious about RedNote users in China as well. “Chinese friends, post photos of your meal or snack for today! Curious to see what you usually eat,” writes one user. Another asks, “I'm American. Do you all like us? We know you all are not the enemy. “Can we all be friends?”
The trend is actually good in a way, and I'm here for it, but I don't believe it will actually stick. If the popularity of these apps increases, they could potentially be banned. But the migration to RedNote is probably just a trend – and the trend only lasts as long as it takes another to replace it.