3 hours ago
Last Updated:January 15, 2025, 17:25 IST
Chinese users asked foreign users, mostly from the US where TikTok faces a ban, to share pictures of their pet to continue using the platform.
Laura Li, 28, and her cousin Diego Deng, 20, search on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, in Hong Kong, China. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
As TikTok faces an impending ban in the United States, Chinese users on the RedNote platform have extended a cordial welcome to their American counterparts who have flocked to the platform.
The anticipated ban of TikTok in the United States on January 19 has triggered a migration of users, now referred to as “TikTok refugees"
The migration is also viewed as a protest against the ban on the ByteDance-owned platform, driving more Americans to adopt another China-developed app.
The surge of foreign users has propelled RedNote to the top, making it the leading free-to-use social media platform among all free iPhone apps in the US.
RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, meaning “Little Red Book," is a Shanghai-based Chinese social media platform launched in 2013 that has gained global popularity.
A report by South China Morning Post said in a report that Chinese mainland users of the RedNote app found their feeds filled with posts from foreign newcomers, who greeted them in English or through machine-translated Chinese.
“Did my phone transport me to another universe?" a surprised Chinese netizen asked.
A playful term, “cat tax," emerged as Chinese users joked that foreigners must share pet pictures, preferably of cats, as a “tax" to continue engaging on the platform. Foreign users eagerly joined in, posting pictures with captions like, “Here’s me paying my cat tax. Please enjoy!" In return, Chinese users shared their own pet photos, sparking an exchange of cat and dog pictures in the comments, the report said.
“U like Chinese, we kiss kiss, you hate Chinese, we punch punch. You talk good about China, we talk good about you, you talk bad about China, we will make you cry," posted another Chinese netizen.
For a short period of time, the app also turned into a homework exchange hub with American and Chinese students exchanging mathematics and English homeworks respectively.
Location :Washington/Beijing
First Published:January 15, 2025, 17:25 IST
News world Chinese RedNote Users Welcome American ‘TikTok Refugees’, Seek ‘Cat Tax’, Exchange Homeworks
