RedNote: Americans and Chinese share jokes on ‘alternative TikTok’ as US ban looms

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 consumer described as a “historic second”.

It is all unfolding on a preferred Chinese language social media app known as RedNote, or Xiaohongshu (actually interprets as Little Pink Ebook), 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” in search of a brand new house on the web – even supposing their very own authorities is in search of 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 actual world, Beijing is bracing for a tumultuous Trump presidency that might pressure its fragile ties with Washington.

On the coronary heart of the US ban is the worry that China is utilizing TikTok to spy on Individuals.

The app has confronted accusations that consumer information is ending up within the palms of the Chinese language authorities – due to a Beijing legislation that requires native corporations to “help, help and cooperate with the state intelligence work”. TikTok denies this has ever occurred, or that it might occur.

However the risk would not appear to fret some US customers – 700,000 new customers have signed on to RedNote within the final two days, making it essentially 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 individuals, authorities, no matter,” stated one new RedNote consumer, Definitelynotchippy.

She goes on to elucidate why she is on RedNote: “Loads 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 known as Douyin. RedNote, then again, is a Chinese language firm primarily based in Shanghai and among the many few social media apps out there each in China and outdoors.

So Washington’s fears over TikTok would lengthen to RedNote as properly.

That is why American customers on RedNote are referring to themselves as “Chinese language spies” – persevering with a TikTok development the place individuals have been bidding farewell to their “private Chinese language spy” who has allegedly been surveilling them through the years.

RedNote is now filled with posts the place ex-TikTok customers are in quest of 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!”

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 actually what is going on as excited Chinese language customers welcome curious Individuals to the app.

“You do not even must journey overseas, you possibly can simply speak to foreigners right here,” stated one Chinese language RedNote consumer in a video that has acquired greater than 6,000 likes.

“But it surely’s truthfully insane, no-one would have anticipated that we might meet like this in the future, overtly talk like this.”

Meals, streaming exhibits and jobs have been the preferred subjects: “Is life in America just like the way it appears to be like on [the US TV show] Mates?”

Different Chinese language customers demanded a “tax” for utilizing the platform – cat photographs.

“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 woman 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 individuals have since answered.

The flood of latest American customers seems to have caught RedNote off guard – experiences say the corporate is hiring English moderators.

And others are attempting to money in on RedNote’s new-found US stardom as properly: language-learning app Duolingo put out a graph exhibiting a 216% bounce in its consumer base, in comparison with this time final yr.

RedNote’s rising reputation isn’t assured to final although.

There isn’t any purpose to imagine it will not face blowback for a similar causes as TikTok: issues that it could possibly be utilized by China to spy on Individuals.

It is unclear how lengthy Beijing could 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 consumer, who posted: “Do not we’ve a (fireplace)wall? How come so many foreigners can enter, when clearly I am unable to go away?”

Sometimes, Chinese language web customers have been unable to straight work together with foreigners. International platforms like Twitter and Instagram and search engines like google like Google are blocked in China, although individuals use VPNs to avoid these restrictions. Delicate subjects – from historical past to dissent – or something seen as crucial of China’s authorities and ruling Communist occasion is swiftly censored.

It is unclear how a lot RedNote is censored – it is largely utilized by youthful and middle-aged ladies in China, the place they share photographs and movies. It isn’t like Weibo, one other Chinese language app, the place discussions and airing of grievances is much extra frequent, resulting in posts usually being taken down.

However a handful of latest RedNote customers say they’ve already acquired experiences that their posts have violated tips, together with one who requested in a publish if the app was “LGBT pleasant”.

One other stated that they had requested “What [sic] Chinese language take into consideration homosexual individuals?” and acquired an identical notification, that that they had violated “public ethical order” tips.

And Chinese language customers hold reminding Individuals on the app “to not point out delicate subjects, resembling politics, faith and medicines”.

One Chinese language consumer additionally suggested them to stay to the “One China coverage”, the diplomatic pillar of the US-China relationship – in keeping with which the US recognises and has formal ties with China fairly than Taiwan, the self-governed island Beijing claims as its personal.

The US authorities has not commented on RedNote to this point, and neither has Beijing.

However Chinese language state media appears upbeat about it, with International Instances even interviewing a US consumer who stated she would “like to work together with Chinese language customers”.

RedNote’s American destiny is anybody’s guess – however for now, no less than on-line, the US-China rivalry is taking a break. Due to cat photos.