As an alternative of wallowing in distress about probably shedding entry to their favourite short-form video app, many TikTokers are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese language social media platform additionally known as Xiaohongshu. I’ve determined to spend a while on the platform myself, and it seems to be like so-called “TikTok refugees” are enthusiastic about interacting with a group primarily comprised of Chinese language-speaking customers — and vice versa.
Launched in 2013 as a procuring platform, RedNote has grown into one in all China’s hottest social apps that includes pictures, movies, and written content material. Now it’s seeing one other spike in customers from one other a part of the globe, with greater than 700,000 customers becoming a member of RedNote in simply two days, according to a report from Reuters. The quantity continues to be small, at only a fraction of the 150 million Americans TikTok reported have been already utilizing the app in early 2023.
As noted by CNN, the title Xiaohongshu interprets to “little pink e book,” which “might be seen as a tongue-in-cheek reference to a red-covered e book of quotations from the founding father of Communist China, Mao Zedong.” Many US customers appear to be utilizing the Chinese language platform out of spite of the US authorities’s plan to ban TikTok — but in a deeply unserious way.
Amongst all of the Chinese language-language posts depicting modern match checks, mouthwatering meals movies, and memes I don’t fairly perceive but, is content material from TikTok expats. Many joke about their sudden look on the app, with one user questioning what Chinese language customers would possibly assume after seeing an inflow of US-based customers and another showing their gradual transformation from a gun-wielding, Buc-ee’s merch-wearing American right into a Chinese language-speaking RedNote consumer. Others are simply saying “hello” to their new group — a few of whom have written captions in what I’d assume is machine-translated Chinese language.
Much more attention-grabbing although, are all of the RedNote customers welcoming TikTokers with open arms. A number of RedNote customers are wanting to introduce the app whereas additionally sharing some ideas and methods on the best way to navigate it. One creator says, “now’s the proper time to dive into Chinese language tradition” by RedNote with the Chinese language New 12 months arising, including that customers on the platform are “obsessive about Luigi, Trump, and Squid Sport.” Some even provide to show their new group members Chinese language.
However many TikTokers are equally interested in RedNote customers in China, too. “Chinese language buddies, submit photos of your meal or snacks for right now! Curious to see what you usually eat,” one consumer writes. One other asks, “I’m American. Do y’all like us? We all know y’all not the enemy. Can all of us be buddies?”
The development is definitely type of healthful, and I’m right here for it, however I’m not assured it would truly final. If these apps develop in recognition, they may probably face a ban, too. However the migration to RedNote is probably going only a development — and traits solely final so long as it takes for one more to exchange it.
Trending Merchandise
