[Video] RedNote: Bringing Americans and Chinese together
When TikTok was possibly going to be banned, Americans turned to RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, as a form of political protest. What followed was a rapid transformation by RedNote and a historic wave of genuine interactions between Western and Chinese users. But now that TikTok is back, will RedNote fade from Americans’ view? ThinkChina’s Yi Jina explores the shifting dynamics of this digital moment.
When TikTok faced a ban in the US, millions of users were left in a digital void, scrambling for alternatives. RedNote, a China-based app, quickly emerged as a surprising alternative. Frustrated by the government’s data security fears and US platforms’ policy changes, Americans have been boycotting Meta and fleeing to RedNote, a Chinese app similar to the one their congressmen had been warning them about. “We all made the joke that we have our own personal Chinese spy, that’s like watching us… cultivating our algorithm… up to date on all of our information. And it’s sort of like an imaginary friend that we’ve all made-up,” says Ish Paul, a TikTok influencer. “We don’t care.”
However, what began as a political protest soon turned into something much more meaningful: a week of unprecedented interaction between Western and Chinese users. People shared recipes, debunked myths, learnt internet slang like “YYDS” (the GOAT) and “XSWL” (LMAO), and even helped one another with homework. “In the past, we may have had some sporadic exchanges, but this marks the first time we’ve seen such large-scale interactions on a single platform,” says digital economy scholar Liu Xingliang. “The conversations are lighthearted and full of enthusiasm.”
RedNote’s rapid transformation has been equally remarkable. Within a week, the app introduced features like auto-translation and curated English content. Creators added English subtitles overnight and even Chinese state media began producing content in English, demonstrating the app’s openness to US users.
Then, as quickly as it had vanished, TikTok returned, leaving US users divided. Some eagerly returned, drawn by familiarity, money and more, while others stayed on RedNote, wary of future disruptions and appreciative of the warm reception they had received on the platform.
Whether RedNote remains in the spotlight or fades from view, the significance of this unique digital chapter will endure. This brief moment of open communication between Western and Chinese users has set a precedent, offering a glimpse of how social media can transcend political divides and offer a platform for mutual understanding, even amid the growing tensions between the US and China.
