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

Jan 15, 2025 06:13 AM - 1 month ago 37846

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 for illustration alleged “TikTok refugees” are excited astir interacting pinch a organization chiefly comprised of Chinese-speaking users — and vice versa.

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

As noted by CNN, the sanction Xiaohongshu translates to “little reddish book,” which “could beryllium seen arsenic a tongue-in-cheek reference to a red-covered book 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 scheme to prohibition TikTok — but successful a profoundly unserious way.

Screenshot: The Verge

Amongst each the Chinese-language posts depicting sleek fresh checks, mouthwatering nutrient videos, and memes I don’t rather understand yet, is contented from TikTok expats. Many joke astir their abrupt quality connected the app, pinch one user wondering what Chinese users mightiness deliberation aft seeing an influx of US-based users and another showing their gradual translator from a gun-wielding, Buc-ee’s merch-wearing American into a Chinese-speaking RedNote user. Others are simply saying “hello” to their caller organization — 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 pinch unfastened arms. Several RedNote users are eager to present the app while besides sharing immoderate tips and tricks connected really to navigate it. One creator says, “now’s the cleanable clip to dive into Chinese culture” done RedNote pinch the Chinese New Year coming up, adding that users connected the level are “obsessed pinch Luigi, Trump, and Squid Game.” Some moreover connection to thatch their caller organization members Chinese.

But galore TikTokers are arsenic funny astir RedNote users successful China, too. “Chinese friends, station pictures of your repast aliases snacks for today! Curious to spot what you typically eat,” 1 personification writes. Another asks, “I’m American. Do y’all for illustration 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 will 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 only past arsenic agelong arsenic it takes for different to switch it.

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