TikTok Refugees: Where Are They Headed?
Image Courtesy: Advocate
You know that one SpongeBob SquarePants episode where audiences get to look into SpongeBob’s mind and see a bunch of tiny SpongeBobs running around while the ‘building’ is on fire? That’s what it was like when the U.S. banned TikTok for a few hours. Granted, no one knew it would be coming back; thus, users on TikTok were preparing for this big, grand goodbye – some big influencers were revealing their secrets about specific videos or things that claimed they did but faked, and some were inviting their followers to find them on other social media like Instagram or YouTube. But what about the little guys? Where did they plan on getting their morning scroll (aka their serotonin boost)? The answer lies in China.
Image Courtesy: Samantha Getchell
Xiaohongshu, or RedNote as its translation, is a massively popular social media app that Chinese and Mandarin-speaking individuals use. One TikToker described the app as having the interface of Pinterest, the algorithm of TikTok, and the aesthetic of Instagram — all of which are frequently used media sites by Americans. The app works like this: when you open it, different videos will appear in a grid-like format. If you press one of the videos, it will not only play, but you will also be able to scroll down and see videos similar to the one you’ve just watched. When you’re tired of that, you can swipe out of the series of videos you just watched and will be greeted once more with the same grid of videos you saw when you first opened the app.
The app is highly similar to TikTok, wherein the people there give fashion advice, make jokes and memes, cook food, provide house tours, and even share edits of their favorite characters from movies and TV shows. RedNote has a reputation for being a very open community, engaging with its followers and fellow users to create something together, even just giving homework advice. It’s no wonder why TikTok users saw RedNote and flocked to it in the wake of their favorite app’s apparent demise. Not only was it a way for the American people to show their frustration with their government, but it was also very close to the same thing they thought they would be missing!
Image Courtesy: RedNote
American TikTok users who transferred to RedNote in preparation for the ban quickly became known as ‘TikTok Refugees.’ These users became a source of many jokes on RedNote and TikTok, further popularizing RedNote among the American audience. When searching up the term in the search function of RedNote, both American users and Chinese users show up – the former usually joking about how different the new app is and the latter, interestingly, sometimes having advice to give the newcomers! Though there are exceptions, most users on RedNote have been extremely welcoming of the new American wave, often showing them how to use the app accordingly, such as the etiquette and the meaning of various emojis.
In light of the U.S. lifting the ban on TikTok, it doesn’t seem like many TikTok refugees will stay on Xiaohongshu, simply because it was a temporary measure for most. But, as a TikTok refugee myself, I can’t help but love it! Sure, there are language barriers, and it’s a whole different kind of community, but ultimately, it’s still a fantastic community of people who are all unique. There’s value in branching out to experience different cultures, even online. I believe many TikTok users are grateful to have had that experience (although I think we’re all glad that TikTok is back). Regardless, I encourage you to try it out yourself!
Strike Out,
Author: Samantha Getchell
Editor: Dani Hernandez
Graphic Designer: Annabella McDaniel
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