US ‘TikTok Refugees’ Flock to Xiaohongshu! What Happened?

TikTok was banned, but things seem to have taken a turn for the better. Despite this, millions of users are looking for a new home before then. Xiaohongshu unexpectedly became the preferred refuge for displaced TikTok users.

What caused the influx of TikTok refugees to Xiaohongshu? How will this cultural collision develop? Xiaohongshu is undergoing this unprecedented change…

US ‘TikTok Refugees’ Flock to Xiaohongshu! Why?

TikTok was banned in the United States on January 19, 2025 (it has been unbanned now). Due to this uncertainty, millions of TikTok users are looking for alternatives, and an app from China has been discovered: Xiaohongshu (RedNote).

This Chinese social media platform has become a refuge for TikTok enthusiasts, who call themselves “TikTok refugees” here. What is Xiaohongshu? Why has it become the platform of choice for these users?

Originated from the US government’s ban on TikTok

To address the national security issues of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, the US government decided that by January 19, 2025, ByteDance must sell TikTok’s US business. Otherwise, it will face a nationwide ban. This ban has shocked TikTok’s 170 million US users, and many must seek alternatives to TikTok.

So why is it Xiaohongshu?

As one of China’s most popular social media platforms, Xiaohongshu has more than 300 million active users per month. The app provides users (mainly women) a platform to share their lives, hobbies, and knowledge. There are several main reasons why American users are flocking to Xiaohongshu:

• Unrestricted registration: TikTok’s Chinese version (Douyin) requires a Chinese mobile phone number to register, but Xiaohongshu does not.
• Familiar features: Xiaohongshu offers a similar experience to TikTok, with endless personalized content recommendations and short video sharing.
• Cultural exchange: Many American users are unfamiliar with Chinese platforms and use Xiaohongshu to communicate and learn from real Chinese people. For example, a teenager from Texas recently received thousands of comments from Chinese users for helping Chinese students with their English homework.
• Protest and resistance: For some users, migrating to Xiaohongshu is a protest against the US government’s handling of TikTok. By adopting the Chinese app, they feel they are rebelling against the claim that Chinese platforms are security risks. As one user, Sarah Fotheringham, a school cafeteria worker in Utah, said, “I don’t have anything that China doesn’t have, and if they want my data that badly, they can get it.”

‘TikTok Refugees’ Propel Xiaohongshu to #1 Downloaded App in US

As TikTok is expected to be banned in the US, users are turning to Xiaohongshu, with the Chinese app soaring to number one in the US app store. Dubbed “TikTok refugees,” these users have brought a new dynamic to the Chinese platform.

Xiaohongshu users find this cultural exchange so interesting that “people even post their English homework and ask for answers.” The platform has become a space for young people from different cultural backgrounds to exchange memes and life tips and occasionally talk about global culture.

However, this interaction also has its challenges. One person believes: “This means that the ban rules are very strict because you can interact directly with Chinese users without filtering your speech.”

Despite these concerns, many new users are excited about the experience. “I’m excited to share social media with Chinese people. I hope we won’t ruin it,” said user A, who stressed that people are cautiously optimistic about this unexpected social media migration.

However, not all Xiaohongshu users are excited about the influx. User N said: “I like Xiaohongshu because the posts are high quality, and I can get useful information. But now my homepage is full of young boys and girls who post selfies and dance videos with the hashtag #tiktokrefugee. The content I used to follow is gone.”

There are currently more than 7935000 posts tagged as “TikTok refugees.” This migration has opened a new chapter for global social media. Whether Xiaohongshu can maintain its unique charm while coping with this influx of new users remains to be seen.

Challenges Xiaohongshu Will Face

Despite its recent surge in popularity, Xiaohongshu still faces significant hurdles in satisfying U.S. users. The app’s interface is designed primarily for Mandarin-speaking users and does not yet support automatic translation of posts or comments. Many new users have difficulty navigating the platform and understanding its terms and conditions, which are written in Mandarin.

Like other Chinese platforms, Xiaohongshu is subject to strict content moderation rules, and discussions about sensitive topics are often censored. U.S. users unfamiliar with these restrictions may receive warnings and post-removals for violating these guidelines.

Xiaohongshu has historically focused on its Chinese audience and rarely attracted a global user base. As U.S. users flock to the platform, Xiaohongshu faces pressure to either adapt the platform to an international audience or create a separate app for non-Chinese users, similar to what ByteDance did with TikTok and Douyin.

In Addition to #tiktokrefugee, Other Funny Tags in Rednote

Under the many “TikTok refugee” tags, more and more new tags have appeared, such as #cattax.

It all started when many new American users called themselves “TikTok refugees” and began posting photos of their pets, especially cats, on Xiaohongshu. Although it is unclear who started the trend, the idea of ​​”paying cat tax” quickly caught on. Chinese users left comments like “Cat Tax Collection Confirmation Letter,” turning it into a new communication method.

The #cattax tag has more than 316,000 posts and 10 million views.

But that’s not all. In addition to #cattax, many new users also introduced themselves in English, explained why they joined Xiaohongshu and expressed goodwill to the Chinese community. Some even provided thoughtful Chinese translations to avoid misunderstandings.

With the addition of tags such as #cattax, Xiaohongshu is becoming a colorful center of cross-cultural interaction. Whether through cats, memes, or some homework, the platform proves that a cat picture can bring the world a little closer.