A looming TikTok ban has related Chinese language and Americans like by no means earlier than, as they swap jokes and memes in what one person described as a “historic second”.
It is all unfolding on a preferred Chinese language social media app referred to as RedNote, or Xiaohongshu (actually interprets as Little Crimson E-book), which does not have the standard web firewall that separates China from the remainder of the world.
It has been drawing self-professed US “TikTok refugees” looking for a brand new dwelling on the web – even if their very own authorities is looking for a TikTok ban due to nationwide safety issues.
Individuals now discover themselves in direct contact with 300 million Mandarin audio system in China and elsewhere – whereas in the true world, Beijing is bracing for a tumultuous Trump presidency that would pressure its fragile ties with Washington.
‘We’re right here to spite our authorities’
On the coronary heart of the US ban is the concern that China is utilizing TikTok to spy on Individuals.
The app has confronted accusations that person information is ending up within the arms of the Chinese language authorities – due to a Beijing legislation that requires native corporations to “assist, help and cooperate with the state intelligence work”. TikTok denies this has ever occurred, or that it might occur.
However the chance does not appear to fret some US customers – 700,000 new customers have signed on to RedNote within the final two days, making it probably the most downloaded free app within the US App retailer.
“The explanation that our authorities is telling us that they’re banning TikTok is as a result of they’re insisting that it is owned by you guys, the Chinese language folks, authorities, no matter,” mentioned one new RedNote person, Definitelynotchippy.
He goes on to clarify why he’s on RedNote: “A whole lot of us are smarter than that although so we determined to piss off our authorities and obtain an precise Chinese language app. We name that trolling, so briefly we’re right here to spite our authorities and to find out about China and hang around with you guys.”
TikTok, though owned by Chinese language firm ByteDance, is headquartered in Singapore and says it’s run independently. Actually, China’s model of TikTok is one other app referred to as Douyin. RedNote, however, is a Chinese language firm primarily based in Shanghai and among the many few social media apps accessible each in China and outdoors.
So Washington’s fears over TikTok would prolong to RedNote as effectively.
That is why American customers on RedNote are referring to themselves as “Chinese language spies” – persevering with a TikTok pattern the place folks have been bidding farewell to their “private Chinese language spy” who has allegedly been surveilling them over time.
RedNote is now stuffed with posts the place ex-TikTok customers are searching for a substitute. One publish says: “I am searching for my Chinese language spy. I miss you. Please assist me discover him.”
And Chinese language customers have answered: “I am right here!”
‘Individuals-to-people exchanges’
The trustworthy, humorous conversations on RedNote will not be what Chinese language President Xi Jinping had in thoughts when he spoke about “strengthening people-to-people cultural exchanges” between China and the US.
However that’s definitely what is going on as excited Chinese language customers welcome curious Individuals to the app.
“You do not even must journey overseas, you’ll be able to simply discuss to foreigners right here,” mentioned one Chinese language RedNote person in a video that has acquired greater than 6,000 likes.
“Nevertheless it’s actually insane, no-one would have anticipated that we might meet like this at some point, brazenly talk like this.”
Meals, streaming reveals and jobs have been the preferred subjects: “Is life in America just like the way it appears on [the US TV show] Associates?”
Different Chinese language customers demanded a “tax” for utilizing the platform – cat pictures.
“Cat tax from California,” reads one publish in response. “Here is my providing – the shorthair is a boy named Bob and the calico is a lady named Marley.”
Nonetheless others are utilizing the platform to ask Individuals for assist with their English homework.
One publish reads: “Pricey TikTok refugees, might you please inform me the reply to query 53? Is the reply T (true) or F (false)?”
Assist got here shortly: some 500 folks have since answered.
The flood of latest American customers seems to have caught RedNote off guard – reviews say the corporate is hiring English moderators.
And others are attempting to money in on RedNote’s new-found US stardom as effectively: language-learning app Duolingo put out a graph exhibiting a 216% leap in its person base, in comparison with this time final yr.
Is RedNote the brand new TikTok?
RedNote’s rising recognition isn’t assured to final although.
There isn’t a purpose to imagine it will not face blowback for a similar causes as TikTok: issues that it might be utilized by China to spy on Individuals.
It is unclear how lengthy Beijing can be open to such unfettered exchanges – management of the web is vital to its repressive regime.
The irony of the state of affairs was flagged by one Chinese language person, who posted: “Do not we’ve got a (fireplace)wall? How come so many foreigners can enter, when clearly I am unable to depart?”
Usually, Chinese language web customers have been unable to immediately work together with foreigners. World platforms like Twitter and Instagram and engines like google like Google are blocked in China, although folks use VPNs to bypass these restrictions. Delicate subjects – from historical past to dissent – or something seen as vital of China’s authorities and ruling Communist celebration is swiftly censored.
It is unclear how a lot RedNote is censored – it is largely utilized by youthful and middle-aged girls in China, the place they share pictures and movies. It is not like Weibo, one other Chinese language app, the place discussions and airing of grievances is way extra frequent, resulting in posts typically being taken down.
However a handful of latest RedNote customers say they’ve already acquired reviews that their posts have violated pointers, together with one who requested in a publish if the app was “LGBT pleasant”.
One other mentioned that they had requested “What [sic] Chinese language take into consideration homosexual folks?” and acquired an analogous notification, that that they had violated “public ethical order” pointers.
And Chinese language customers preserve reminding Individuals on the app “to not point out delicate subjects, akin to politics, faith and medicines”.
One Chinese language person additionally suggested them to stay to the “One China coverage”, the diplomatic pillar of the US-China relationship – in accordance with which the US recognises and has formal ties with China quite than Taiwan, the self-governed island Beijing claims as its personal.
The US authorities has not commented on RedNote up to now, and neither has Beijing.
However Chinese language state media appears upbeat about it, with World Instances even interviewing a US person who mentioned she would “like to work together with Chinese language customers”.
RedNote’s American destiny is anybody’s guess – however for now, a minimum of on-line, the US-China rivalry is taking a break. Because of cat photos.