As TikTok faces an imminent ban in the United States, hundreds of thousands of Americans have found an unexpected new social media home on RedNote (Xiaohongshu) - a Chinese lifestyle app that has become a vibrant hub of cross-cultural exchange.
RedNote, which translates to "Little Red Book," has shot to the top spot on Apple's US App Store, gaining over 700,000 new American users in just 48 hours. The platform's sudden popularity has created an unprecedented space where US and Chinese users are connecting through memes, jokes, and candid conversations.
Chinese users have playfully dubbed the American newcomers "TikTok refugees" and jokingly introduced themselves as their "new Chinese spies." They've started offering Mandarin lessons and created group chats to help Americans navigate the unfamiliar platform. In a lighthearted gesture, Chinese users have instituted a "cat tax" - requiring foreign users to share pictures of their pets as "payment" for using the app.
The cultural exchange has sparked creative content on both sides. One popular Chinese English teacher has gained attention for teaching Americans how to say "America" in Mandarin while doing a Donald Trump impression - a playful response to Trump's notorious pronunciation of "China."
However, RedNote's rising popularity highlights an ironic twist: As Americans flee TikTok over Chinese surveillance concerns, they're migrating to another Chinese platform with even stronger ties to China. Unlike TikTok, which operates separate versions for Chinese and international users, RedNote functions as a single global platform.
The app's Shanghai-based parent company, Xingyin Information Technology, has been caught off guard by the sudden influx of American users. They're now rushing to hire English-speaking moderators and improve translation tools to accommodate their new international audience.
While the platform operates under China's strict internet regulations, which limit discussion of sensitive topics, users from both countries have found common ground through shared interests in food, entertainment, and daily life. The resulting interactions have created an unexpected form of digital diplomacy, fostering understanding between ordinary citizens of two nations often at odds politically.
As the TikTok ban approaches, RedNote's future in the US remains uncertain. The platform could face similar scrutiny over its Chinese ownership. For now, though, it serves as a unique window into cross-cultural connection, where users from both nations are finding humor and humanity in their digital interactions.