Help with English homework: TikTok refugees on RedNote connect with Chinese users

Think of how many times you see a Chinese person’s post on social media. Most likely, it will be very little to none. But, this might be changing for many Americans. TikTok is facing an imminent shutdown after getting no Supreme Court relief on a federal ban imposed on it over security concerns. With TikTok’s set to go dark, many are now flocking to a Chinese app called Xiaohongshu, which means “Little Red Book”. Americans call it RedNote and the Chinese app is seeing a flood of “TikTok refugees”. But this is not just an alternative app, it is also giving Americans and Chinese a rare opportunity to discuss life, from English homework to food, from cats to laws.

RedNote surged to be the top app on Apple’s US App Store on January 14 as thousands of the 170 million American TikTok users searched for an alternative video platform. The app’s phone downloads also increased threefold in the past week, San Francisco-based market intelligence firm Sensor Tower told CNN.

#TIKTOK REFUGEES TRENDS, 70,000 NEW USERS FOR REDNOTE

In just two days, over 700,000 new users have downloaded and used Xiaohongshu, according to a Reuters report.

These new users are being called “TikTok refugees” on the internet. The hashtag “TikTok refugees” was trending and has 5.5. million comments, reported CNN.

This app works on user interests more than the people followed and some believe this could lead to better content.

Lemon8, another app by ByteDance, is now the second-most downloaded app on Apple’s US store.

RedNote downloaded by many in the US is opening a door of communication between Americans and Chinese. What followed is a warm welcome, chatter and some kind of community for RedNote users.

What is different about Xiaohongshu or RedNote is that it has just one platform, unlike TikTok that keeps its Chinese and international users separate. This is helping people connect and interact.

ENGLISH HOMEWORK, DON’T DISCUSS POLITICS: LIVE CHAT ON REDNOTE

In a live chat called “TikTok Refugees” on RedNote, more than 50,000 Americans and Chinese interacted, reported Reuters.

American users were “good guests”.

“I just want to reassure you that we want to try to find a way to communicate with you, be respectful to your community,” one user said.

“We want to be good guests,” the user added.

But the Chinese users of the app walked in with caution.

“Just a quick message for the American users coming over here: Please don’t bring politics here. We want to have fun here, we want to enjoy ourselves here, and we want to show respect to the people who are already here,” said one user.

But it seems, some people did not take notes.

“Is it ok to ask about how laws are different in China versus Hong Kong?” one American asked.

“We prefer not to talk about that here,” a Chinese user replied.

Then came discussions about food and unemployment between the two.

Chinese users were posting pages of English homework, seeking help from the American TikTok refugees. One such post by a Chinese person seeking help with homework gained over 2,000 likes.

“This could be a historic moment,” one Chinese user said. “It feels like so much has changed in an instant. Ordinary people from our two countries have never really connected before … I hope everyone can take this brief chance to engage in meaningful exchanges of ideas.”

A Chinese user said that the influx of Americans has brought a lot of “vitality and freshness” to RedNote.

Users from China were asking their American counterparts to add Chinese subtitles to their videos, and demanding an “entry fee” in the form of cat photos.

A user from the US posted a photo of his pet and said: “Paying my cat tax”.

“The cultural exchange has been incredible to watch,” James Harr, who has been using RedNote as a form of protest against the American government, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Things might change as China, which controls the internet and social media vigorously, might not choose to look away for too long. But till there is no authoritarian glare, the interesting discussion on homework, food and laws, with some entry cat tax can continue and bring people together.