RedNote: what it’s like using the Chinese app TikTokers are flocking to

Instead of wallowing successful misery astir perchance losing entree to their favourite short-form video app, galore TikTokers are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese societal media level besides called Xiaohongshu. I’ve decided to walk immoderate clip connected the level myself, and it looks similar alleged “TikTok refugees” are excited astir interacting with a assemblage chiefly comprised of Chinese-speaking users — and vice versa.

Launched successful 2013 arsenic a buying platform, RedNote has grown into 1 of China’s astir fashionable societal apps featuring photos, videos, and written content. Now it’s seeing different spike successful users from different portion of the globe, with much than 700,000 users joining RedNote successful conscionable 2 days, according to a study from Reuters. The fig is inactive small, astatine conscionable a fraction of the 150 cardinal Americans TikTok reported were already utilizing the app successful aboriginal 2023.

As noted by CNN, the sanction Xiaohongshu translates to “little reddish book,” which “could beryllium seen arsenic a tongue-in-cheek notation to a red-covered publication of quotations from the founding begetter of Communist China, Mao Zedong.” Many US users look to beryllium utilizing the Chinese level retired of spite of the US government’s program to prohibition TikTok — but successful a profoundly unserious way.

Amongst each the Chinese-language posts depicting sleek acceptable checks, mouthwatering nutrient videos, and memes I don’t rather recognize yet, is contented from TikTok expats. Many gag astir their abrupt quality connected the app, with one user wondering what Chinese users mightiness deliberation aft seeing an influx of US-based users and another showing their gradual translation from a gun-wielding, Buc-ee’s merch-wearing American into a Chinese-speaking RedNote user. Others are simply saying “hello” to their caller assemblage — immoderate of whom person written captions successful what I’d presume is machine-translated Chinese.

Even much absorbing though, are each the RedNote users welcoming TikTokers with unfastened arms. Several RedNote users are anxious to present the app portion besides sharing immoderate tips and tricks connected however to navigate it. One creator says, “now’s the cleanable clip to dive into Chinese culture” done RedNote with the Chinese New Year coming up, adding that users connected the level are “obsessed with Luigi, Trump, and Squid Game.” Some adjacent connection to thatch their caller assemblage members Chinese.

But galore TikTokers are arsenic funny astir RedNote users successful China, too. “Chinese friends, station pictures of your repast oregon snacks for today! Curious to spot what you typically eat,” 1 idiosyncratic writes. Another asks, “I’m American. Do y’all similar us? We cognize y’all not the enemy. Can we each beryllium friends?”

The inclination is really benignant of wholesome, and I’m present for it, but I’m not assured it volition really last. If these apps turn successful popularity, they could perchance look a ban, too. But the migration to RedNote is apt conscionable a inclination — and trends lone past arsenic agelong arsenic it takes for different to regenerate it.