By LYNN YANG
Tiger Media Network
After months of build-up, the popular social media platform TikTok was shut down in the United States last weekend…for a few hours. However, the app was restored after President Donald Trump announced an executive order to delay the TikTok ban for 75 days. During the shutdown period, many users were in search of a replacement app for TikTok and may still need to do so depending on the future of the app in the coming 75 days.
Although the ban has been postponed, it has not been fully lifted, leaving users with a lingering sense of uncertainty, especially those who rely on TikTok for income or maintaining their social networks. A Chinese social media platform, Xiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book/Red Note, became one of the top destinations for these “#TikTok-refugees.”
The scrutiny TikTok faces in the United States stems from concerns about data privacy and national security. Although its parent company, Chinese-based ByteDance, has implemented several measures, including transferring data storage to the U.S., these efforts have failed to alleviate the concerns of the North American government.
In April, Congress voted on a law that resulted in the ban. FBI Director Christopher Wray told House Intelligence Committee Members in March the Chinese government could compromise Americans’ devices through the software.
Last Sunday, as the “sell or ban” deadline approached, TikTok chose to shut down the app completely. Many TikTok users felt angry and helpless, expressing their dissatisfaction with the ban and protesting against Meta on social media.
Meta was at the center of controversy when Instagram hid the search results for “Democrat Party,” raising questions about its political neutrality. Some users found themselves automatically following the accounts of Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a series of events that heightened criticism of Meta’s transparency. To demonstrate their discontent, many TikTok fans proposed collectively downloading Xiaohongshu and pledged to stop using Meta-owned platforms once the ban takes effect.
Some TikTok users feel that the platform provides more freedom of speech than Amerian-based platforms such as Meta and X/Twitter, and it provides a place to be more authentic while online.
“One of the things that we really liked about TikTok engagement was that we got authentic and we felt that our authentic selves into the videos that we were,” @NowwhereNothin said on the Xiaohongshu platform. “Instagram has always been a place that feels very fake and that has bled over into how people comment on it. It’s a very toxic place and Facebook is just where your grandparents share AI-generated images. We don’t talk about that.”
Even with TikTok restored, many online users are still flocking to Xiaohongshu, where more than 700,000 users signed up in just two days ahead of the TikTok ban.
The Xiaohongshu community is characterized by its focus on “sharing real life.” While this “realness” might come with a bit more polish than actual reality, it offers a sense of novelty for many Chinese and American users who have never visited each other’s countries.
Starting on January 13, the opening of the Xiaohongshu platform revealed a homepage filled with greetings from American users in “translated-style Chinese.” They interact with Chinese users using this quirky, translated tone, sparking a wave of cross-cultural exchange.
A top priority for these American users is to “pay cat tax,” which means sharing photos of their pets, especially cats, in their first posts. Some Chinese users directly ask their American counterparts, “Do you have a cat? Show us now!” In response, the American users happily share pictures of their cats.
For example, an American user @WhyAmIHere introduced themselves on Xiaohongshu with a photo of their cat and exchanged kitten pictures with others. The comment section quickly turned into a mini pet showcase, with nearly 10,000 users sharing photos of their pets.
In addition to its regular social media functions, Xiaohongshu has evolved into a platform for cross-regional and cross-disciplinary exchange and learning. Many Chinese users take advantage of this opportunity to ask foreign users for help with their English homework. Meanwhile, numerous foreign users “reverse-help” by seeking assistance from Chinese users with math and Chinese homework.
At the same time, both sides have engaged in discussions on topics such as fashion, music, and movies. During these exchanges, many users choose to use translators, posting in Chinese or bilingual Chinese-English. Others have expressed a desire to learn Chinese. Additionally, many Chinese and American users have shared the hope that Xiaohongshu could include an automatic translation feature.
To better meet the needs of both Chinese and American users, Xiaohongshu quickly introduced an automatic translation feature, making cross-language communication more convenient. The newly added translation feature handles regular translations and can interpret popular Chinese internet slang and pinyin abbreviations. It can even transcribe and translate chemical equations into written language.
As global netizens flood into Chinese media, a fierce “information reconciliation” has begun. On both sides, there are online discussions aimed at clarifying facts. The Chinese people are curious about whether high incomes in the U.S. are real, whether people need to work two jobs to survive, and if dishwashing jobs in the U.S. pay $15 an hour. Meanwhile, American people are curious about Chinese cuisine, how much medical insurance costs in China, and how the Chinese view American politics.
The 75-day postponement of the TikTok ban has temporarily alleviated the platform’s crisis, but the uncertainty surrounding the policy remains unresolved. Trump’s proposed ‘equity deal’ condition leaves both users and the platform facing an uncertain future. Meanwhile, some users are taking a wait-and-see approach, holding off on decisions until TikTok’s ultimate fate is determined.
This wave of excitement gives everyone a sense of breaking down barriers and engaging in friendly exchanges. People’s enthusiasm may fade as the wave subsides, but the foreign users who genuinely enjoy Xiaohongshu will likely remain. Xiaohongshu may undergo a transformation from being a Chinese platform to a global social media platform. However, balancing the cultural differences of global users with the platform’s rules is an issue that requires careful consideration.
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