Chinese language customers react to US ‘TikTok refugees’

A looming TikTok ban has linked 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 referred to as RedNote, or Xiaohongshu (actually interprets as Little Pink 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” in search of a brand new house on the web – even if their very own authorities is in search of a TikTok ban due to nationwide safety considerations.

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 fingers 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 does 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 rationale 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 consumer, Definitelynotchippy.

He goes on to elucidate why he’s 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 in brief we’re right here to spite our authorities and to study 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, alternatively, is a Chinese language firm based mostly in Shanghai and among the many few social media apps out there each in China and out of doors.

So Washington’s fears over TikTok would prolong to RedNote as nicely.

That is why American customers on RedNote are referring to themselves as “Chinese language spies” – persevering with a TikTok development the place folks 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 looking for a alternative. One publish says: “I am on the lookout 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 might 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 have to journey overseas, you’ll be able to simply discuss to foreigners right here,” mentioned one Chinese language RedNote consumer in a video that has obtained greater than 6,000 likes.

“But it surely’s actually insane, no-one would have anticipated that we may meet like this sooner or later, overtly talk like this.”

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

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

“Cat tax from California,” reads one publish in response. “This 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: “Expensive TikTok refugees, may 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 – stories say the corporate is hiring English moderators.

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

RedNote’s rising recognition is just not assured to final although.

There is no such thing as a motive to imagine it will not face blowback for a similar causes as TikTok: considerations 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 essential to its repressive regime.

The irony of the state of affairs was flagged by one Chinese language consumer, who posted: “Do not we now have a (hearth)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 immediately work together with foreigners. World platforms like Twitter and Instagram and search engines like google like Google are blocked in China, although folks 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 pictures and movies. It isn’t like Weibo, one other Chinese language app, the place discussions and airing of grievances is much extra widespread, resulting in posts typically being taken down.

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

One other mentioned they’d requested “What [sic] Chinese language take into consideration homosexual folks?” and obtained the same notification, that they’d violated “public ethical order” tips.

And Chinese language customers preserve reminding Individuals on the app “to not point out delicate subjects, corresponding to 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 – based on which the US recognises and has formal ties with China reasonably than Taiwan, the self-governed island Beijing claims as its personal.

The US authorities has not commented on RedNote thus far, and neither has Beijing.

However Chinese language state media appears upbeat about it, with World Occasions even interviewing a US consumer who mentioned 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.