With a potential TikTok ban on the horizon, US users are turning to the Chinese app Xiaohongshu in large numbers as a form of protest.
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HONG KONG (AP) — As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S.
Some of the “TikTok refugees,” as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban.
The U.S. Supreme Court is due to rule on a law that stipulates TikTok must be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S. over national security concerns.
After the justices seemed inclined to let the law stand, masses of TikTok users began creating accounts on Xiaohongshu, including hashtags such as #tiktokrefugee or #tiktok to their posts. Since Monday, Xiaohongshu has become the top downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S.
Xiaohongshu, translated as "Little Red Book" in English, is a Chinese social media platform that integrates features of e-commerce, short videos, and user-generated content.
In recent years, the app has seen significant popularity in China and among regions with a Chinese diaspora, including Malaysia and Taiwan. It boasts 300 million monthly active users, predominantly young women who turn to it as a primary search engine for finding recommendations on products, travel, restaurants, and tutorials for makeup and skincare.
The #tiktokrefugee hashtag has garnered more than 160,000 posts on Xiaohongshu, with a significant number featuring American users sharing videos to introduce themselves and seeking advice on how to use the app, which they refer to as "RedNote."
Xiaohongshu has yet to provide a response to a comment request from The Associated Press.
Alexis Garman, a 21-year-old TikTok influencer from Oklahoma, boasts nearly 20,000 followers. She recently signed up for Xiaohongshu on Tuesday after observing others joining the platform. Garman mentioned that she doesn't have significant worries regarding data privacy.
Garman expressed, “My experience on (Xiaohongshu) has been truly wonderful and welcoming,” having shared two posts on the platform.
"I love your makeup!" a Xiaohongshu user from Beijing writes on one of her posts, and Garman responds with a thank you. Meanwhile, a user from Sichuan jokingly remarks, "I am your Chinese spy… please share your personal details or pictures of your cat (or dog)!"
“Garman expressed that the potential ban of TikTok is more than just losing an app; it means the loss of jobs, friendships, and a sense of community. ‘For me, the connections and relationships I've built with my followers will be lost,’ he stated.”
Other American users who have started using Xiaohongshu have expressed their reasons for joining the platform as a form of protest against the potential ban on TikTok.
An American user known as Definitelynotchippy created a video specifically for the Chinese audience on Xiaohongshu, detailing the reasons behind the increasing number of American users downloading the app.
“She stated, ‘The reason our government claims they are prohibiting TikTok is that they are asserting it’s owned by you, the Chinese people or government, whatever. They want us to believe that you are the enemy.’”
"Many of us are more intelligent than that, which is why we chose to annoy our government by downloading a genuine Chinese app," she remarked. "We refer to this as trolling… essentially, we're here to defy our government, gain insights about China, and spend time with all of you."
Users in China on Xiaohongshu have generally embraced American users, with several extending offers to teach them the Chinese language. Additionally, some have provided guidance on how to navigate the Chinese internet, cautioning newcomers against mentioning or discussing politically sensitive topics, as this could lead to censorship. In certain instances, Chinese students have even sought assistance from Americans with their English assignments.
Similar to many applications and online services in China, Xiaohongshu faces censorship regulations. These platforms usually implement censorship by removing or shadowbanning content that the Chinese government considers politically sensitive. Major Western platforms like Google and Facebook are inaccessible in China.
Though Xiaohongshu has seen an influx of users, it is not clear if the app could replace TikTok, which has created an ecosystem that allows for e-commerce and advertising. Before TikTok was under threat, the overwhelming majority of Xiaohongshu’s users were Chinese, and the app, which lacks translation features, is not optimized for an international user base.
Even though U.S.-China tensions remain high over trade and national security, many Chinese and American Xiaohongshu users have pursued friendly cultural exchanges on the app. Those interactions range from live chat rooms to comments on posts.
A TikTok user named Amanda, who has recently relocated to a new platform, shared a video expressing her joy at discovering the Xiaohongshu app. She mentioned how welcoming the Chinese community has been. In response to her post, a Chinese user commented, “We are not enemies; we are all human beings living in the same world!”
"Another person mentioned, 'We've never really had the opportunity to connect with you international users directly on the same app or platform, so we share that sentiment since you are here on this app.'"
在一条用中文发布的评论中，Amanda，这位TikTok“难民”，表示她未来会努力在视频中添加中文的字幕和说明。
"I'm thrilled to engage with Chinese individuals and discover more about your culture and personal stories," she expressed.
