Chinese Public Opinion Leaders Respond to "TikTok Refugees" Migrating to RedNote
Hu Xijin(胡锡进) and Ming Jinwei(明叔杂谈) on TikTok Exodus
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on legislation that could force TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company or face a ban. Amid these uncertainties, many TikTok users are migrating to RedNote (Xiaohongshu, 小红书), a Chinese Instagram-like platform. The hashtag #tiktokrefugees has suddenly begun trending on this app. That unexpected online migration also makes RedNote the most downloaded app on Apple’s app store in the US.
The interactions between Chinese netizens and TikTok refugees have been overwhelmingly positive. Users primarily exchange pictures of their pets, participating in what they playfully call "paying cat/dog tax" (交猫/狗税). Particularly fascinating is their shared sense of humor, as both groups play memes about “Chinese Spy.” What began as casual exchanges has evolved into more substantive discussions about workplace laws and labor protections facilitated by translation tools.
The problem is, what about the Chinese reaction? How would they respond to us users flooding the Chinese internet? Former Chief Editor of Global Times Hu Xijin(胡锡进), also one of the top opinion leaders, published his opinion on his personal WeChat channel Hu’s observation(胡锡进观察). He urges both RedNote and the authorities to expand the openness of the Chinese internet and have the courage to embrace this influx of users, viewing it as a rare opportunity rather than a risk.
I believe our best response is to go with this momentum, enhance our adaptability, and move toward becoming a center of the virtual internet world…….our "on-the-spot response" should be positive, bold, going with the flow, and full of dynamic.
我们顺势而为,扩大、强化自己的适应力,朝着互联网虚拟世界的中心移动,这是最恰当的反应……….我们的“临场反应”应当是积极的,有胆略的,顺势而为且充满张力的。
The RedNote provides a crucial "virtual China" landing point for international users, and such migration reflects a rebalancing of U.S.-China internet power dynamics. Drawing parallels with China's current physical economy opening-up policies, he advocates for a similar open attitude in the virtual world, as the opportunities far outweigh the risks.
Another officially celebrated public opinion leader Ming Jinwei, known for his account Mingshu Zatan 明叔杂谈, also posted today, believes the movement is "A spontaneous transnational internet performance art." He encourages the Chinese to maintain a more calm and balanced mindset about the issue. (我们对此还是需要保持一份平常心) He believes it shows American users' active resistance to their government's TikTok policy while simultaneously showcasing China's ability to create globally appealing applications. More importantly, it has fostered direct cultural exchange between Chinese and American users, challenging the prevailing negative narratives about China. While this surge might prove temporary, it represents a significant milestone in China's digital evolution, following the international success of platforms like TikTok and Temu. This digital bridge, particularly when viewed alongside China's recent visa-free initiatives, suggests a broader trend toward enhanced global engagement. This may strengthen China's global appeal and contribute to improved international understanding through direct people-to-people connections.
Below I’ve attached the translation of these two op-eds.
Hu: Can Xiaohongshu Handle the Wave of “American Refugees” Fleeing to Chinese Internet?
With the flood of "TikTok refugees" flocking to China's Xiaohongshu, can the platform handle this massive influx of traffic? My take is: It absolutely must!
First, we need the courage to embrace this wave. With TikTok's fate hanging in the balance, users are migrating en masse to Xiaohongshu, pushing it to the top of US app store downloads overnight. This sudden shift has transformed Xiaohongshu's international landscape and brought a wave of "digital immigrants" to China's internet sphere.
True, these newcomers' motivations are fluid – there's an element of protest against the US government's actions. They might leave if things change back home; this isn't exactly a permanent "mass exodus," and their final digital home remains uncertain. Still, this migration to Xiaohongshu is a major event in the internet world. If Xiaohongshu proves sticky enough, it might just keep them. But is retaining them worthwhile? What are the pros and cons for China's internet ecosystem?
This influx of foreigners, especially American youth, represents a new wave of openness for us, though it'll inevitably bring complications. But consider this: China opened its doors wide last year, offering unilateral visa-free entry to attract foreign tourists, workers, and students. While this naturally added complexity to China's domestic environment, "physical China" not only handled it but actively welcomed and promoted it.
Xiaohongshu is essentially a major landing point for "virtual China." Normally, attracting foreign users at scale is challenging. Now, thanks to "American domestic turbulence," we're seeing an exodus to Xiaohongshu. Instead of viewing this as a risk, we should see it as a rare opportunity. The potential benefits far outweigh the risks.
We should welcome these TikTok refugees with open arms rather than fear the incoming "refugee wave." We need the capability to accommodate them while upgrading China's internet landscape. China is one of the strongest advocates for globalization, yet we've long been on the defensive against Western ideological attacks. TikTok has demonstrated China's capacity for openness, and this influx of "American refugees" to Xiaohongshu shows we've reached a tipping point in the balance of US-China online influence.
I believe our best response is to go with this momentum, enhance our adaptability, and move toward becoming a center of the virtual internet world. The presence of English-speaking American users will attract global attention, naturally positioning Xiaohongshu as a more central platform. Managing these American users while maintaining Chinese oversight of Xiaohongshu creates a complex chain of interactions. We should be confident in our ability to maintain a user-friendly environment for foreign users while keeping control, creating a positive cycle of openness and security.If Xiaohongshu succeeds, it will provide a new foundation for China and the international community to jointly set and explore shared civilian agendas. Through this process, we will accumulate valuable experience and develop increasingly broader pathways for engagement.
While this sudden influx will require adjustment and adaptation, our "on-the-spot response" should be positive, bold, going with the flow, and full of dynamic. However, as mentioned, there's uncertainty in this migration, driven partly by collective protest against the TikTok ban. If Xiaohongshu shows hesitation, this wave might recede as quickly as it came. That would be Xiaohongshu's loss – keeping these digital refugees is worth our effort and strategic thinking.
Ming Jinwei: Americans Flood into Xiaohongshu: A Spontaneous Cross-Border “Internet Performance Art”
Recently, news about American users spontaneously flocking to the Chinese app "Xiaohongshu" has spread across both Chinese and American internet. With the U.S. government's "sell or ban" deadline for TikTok approaching, some American users jokingly call themselves "TikTok refugees" as they migrate to Xiaohongshu and actively interact with Chinese users. As more Americans joined, Xiaohongshu briefly rose to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store's download chart. One American user joked, "I heard Chinese people are good at math - you can teach us math, and we'll teach you English." So far, the spontaneous interactions between Chinese and American users have been "enthusiastic and friendly." Some Chinese users half-jokingly remarked that this proves "U.S.-China relations' hope lies in the people, its foundation in civil society, its future in youth, and its vitality in local communities."
As news of Americans joining Xiaohongshu spread in both countries, the platform suddenly received massive traffic. Some might wonder if Xiaohongshu planned this, or if they're trying to capitalize on TikTok's uncertain situation to expand overseas. After examining the situation, the answer is clearly "no." This traffic surge was too sudden, with obvious spontaneous participation from users in both countries. Additionally, Xiaohongshu currently focuses on serving domestic users without plans for large-scale internationalization. Moreover, with the U.S. government's unreasonable suppression of TikTok, any Chinese company would be wary of trying to "profit from the situation." I suspect that Xiaohongshu, typically known for keeping a low profile, might even be somewhat overwhelmed by this sudden traffic surge. However, I think Xiaohongshu shouldn't worry too much - as an app popular among young Chinese users in recent years, they should just continue focusing on their product, service, and positive values.
For readers, this humorous news story raises three main questions:
First, what exactly is Xiaohongshu?
Second, why are American users suddenly flocking to it?
Third, how should we view this news in the context of current U.S.-China relations?
Some people unfamiliar with various apps might be hearing about Xiaohongshu for the first time. Simply put, it's a Chinese social media application where users share experiences about life, work, travel, shopping, and consumption. As Xiaohongshu says, "300 million people's life experiences are on Xiaohongshu." These shares can transform into product recommendations and new forms of online shopping. As a social network, Xiaohongshu has strong user retention - I've shared English learning experiences there myself. Many young people now love this app. In some ways, Xiaohongshu is another highly successful Chinese app following Douyin (TikTok).
Why are Americans joining Xiaohongshu now? We can understand this from three perspectives:
First, Xiaohongshu, as a Chinese app, is genuinely interesting and useful, with practical sharing features. As its reputation grows, many Americans have become interested.
Second, January 19, 2025, marks the deadline for TikTok's "sell or ban" ultimatum from the U.S. government. Some American users, worried about losing access to TikTok, are seeking another entertaining and useful Chinese app.
Third, many American users are dissatisfied with their government's approach to TikTok, and this is their way of protesting. In the internet age, such behavior can spread quickly through word of mouth.
How should we view this situation? First, it's positive from any angle. It highlights American users' protest against their government's TikTok policy and demonstrates China's ability to create engaging apps - something previously monopolized by U.S. internet companies. Additionally, American users' friendly interactions with Chinese users on Xiaohongshu increase their understanding of China, helping counter traditional U.S. media's distorted portrayal of China.
Some might wonder about managing the influx of American users on a Chinese app. We should maintain a normal attitude. Xiaohongshu and other Chinese apps have established detailed community guidelines based on Chinese laws and regulations, which apply to all users regardless of nationality.
I have compared the internet ecosystems of China and the United States. Some Americans are overly devoted to extreme "individual freedom of expression," which has ultimately led to many U.S. social media platforms being dominated by extreme views and serious division among internet users. It has even resulted in a phenomenon of "bad money driving out good." The idea that "in a free marketplace of ideas, the most correct views will emerge victorious through competition" is, at best, idealistic and, at worst, naive. China's crackdown on extreme speech and regulation of content that divides society and provokes confrontation is both necessary and effective. This makes China's internet ecosystem healthier and more sustainable than the American internet ecosystem in certain aspects. Moreover, Chinese society has always maintained zero tolerance for "pornography, gambling, and drugs," making China's internet ecology significantly better than America's in this regard. We should remain confident about this and not worry about criticism from some Westerners.
Will this influx of American users to Xiaohongshu become a long-term trend, or will it be just another fleeting internet phenomenon like many other "digital performance art" movements? I think we need more time to observe. As mentioned earlier, Xiaohongshu currently focuses primarily on serving domestic Chinese users and doesn't have an aggressive internationalization strategy. So, even though memes about "Americans flooding into Xiaohongshu" are circulating widely on both Chinese and American internet, we should maintain a balanced perspective.
Over the past two to three decades, the United States has repeatedly led global trends in internet products. However, in the past decade or so, Chinese internet products have begun gaining recognition and preference from international users through their solid product quality. TikTok and Temu are examples of this, with Xiaohongshu being the latest case. This demonstrates that good internet products can be internationally competitive. Recently, with China's visa-free policies taking effect for many foreign countries, China's appeal to international tourists has been steadily growing. As more overseas users engage with these Chinese internet products, it will help more international audiences understand and become attracted to China, further spreading China's influence globally.
It would be nice if xhs could be a social media space for Chinese and overseas users. But I think XHS needs some kind of HK style national security policy to keep the CIA-BBC etc out of this space. Make it safe for normal citizens of the world!