As TikTok faces a potential ban, U.S. users are migrating to Xiaohongshu, sparking a wave of protest and cultural exchange.
Oklahoma: With the threat of a TikTok ban hanging over their heads, many U.S. TikTok users are jumping ship to a Chinese app called Xiaohongshu. This app has quickly become the most downloaded free app in the U.S.
These users, who are calling themselves “TikTok refugees,” are making the switch as a form of protest against the potential ban. They’re looking for alternatives and finding Xiaohongshu to be a popular choice.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to make a decision on a law that could force TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, by January 19. If they don’t, TikTok could be banned in the U.S. due to national security worries.
As the court seems ready to uphold this law, a flood of TikTok users has started signing up for Xiaohongshu, using hashtags like #tiktokrefugee. Since Monday, it’s taken the top spot on Apple’s App Store.
Xiaohongshu, which translates to “Little Red Book,” is a social media platform that mixes e-commerce with short videos and user posts. It’s been gaining popularity in China and among Chinese communities abroad, boasting around 300 million monthly active users, mostly young women.
The #tiktokrefugee hashtag has exploded, with over 160,000 posts. Many American users are sharing videos to introduce themselves and ask for tips on using the app, which they’ve nicknamed “RedNote.”
One user, Alexis Garman, a 21-year-old from Oklahoma, joined Xiaohongshu after seeing others do the same. She’s not too worried about data privacy and has found the community welcoming.
“What I’ve experienced so far has been really great and inviting,” she said, sharing that she’s already interacted with users from China.
Garman expressed her concerns about losing connections if TikTok gets banned, saying it’s not just an app; it’s about jobs and friendships too.
Other users are vocal about their reasons for joining Xiaohongshu, with one American user explaining in a video that they’re downloading the app to push back against the government’s narrative about China.
Chinese users on Xiaohongshu have been friendly, offering to teach American users Chinese and sharing tips on how to navigate the platform. They’ve even asked for help with their English homework.
However, it’s important to note that Xiaohongshu is subject to censorship, like most apps in China. Content deemed politically sensitive can be deleted or hidden, and many Western platforms are blocked in China.
While Xiaohongshu is seeing a surge in users, it’s uncertain if it can truly replace TikTok, which has built a robust ecosystem for e-commerce and advertising. Most of Xiaohongshu’s users were previously Chinese, and the app isn’t really set up for international users.
Despite ongoing U.S.-China tensions, many users on Xiaohongshu are engaging in friendly cultural exchanges. They’re connecting through live chats and comments, sharing experiences and learning from each other.
A TikTok refugee named Amanda shared her excitement about finding Xiaohongshu, noting how welcoming the Chinese users have been. One user commented, “We are not enemies; we are human beings living in one world!”
Amanda plans to add captions in Chinese to her posts, expressing her happiness in connecting with Chinese people and learning about their culture.
