Elle Lindstrom

As the distrust of TikTok grows, more Americans turn to apps such as Xiaohongshu (RedNote) instead.

The Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, translated into English as RedNote, is receiving massive amounts of foreign attention, specifically in the United States.

American users often refer to the app as “Chinese TikTok” as its platform is similar to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. It primarily features video-based posts on a feed with various types of content. I haven’t used TikTok since 2022, when I first became interested in the trials regarding the U.S. government’s perceived threat of the Chinese stealing Citizens’ data through TikTok. This ongoing debate flared up more recently, resulting in TikTok being completely banned starting January 19. Once the ban was lifted, attitudes surrounding TikTok shifted, and even the app underwent radical changes, specifically regarding censorship. People are now weary of the app and have turned to alternative online entertainment.

Right when the argument for banning TikTok reached its peak, Xiaohongshu gained rapid popularity among young internet users. Many American citizens joined this app in spite of the U.S. government’s claims that the Chinese government was stealing users’ data on TikTok. This was also part of the reason I decided to check out the app.

I like the app more than TikTok. Almost everything is translated automatically into English, and an increasing amount of content is in English from new American users.

One thing about Xiaohongshu I like better than TikTok is the comment section. While TikTok occasionally has funny comment sections, Xiaohongshu’s comment sections are engaging, informative, and hilarious. The comment section is a place for the online community to share thoughts, opinions, and knowledge. The most common examples I see are unique travel destinations or sites, the responses are usually filled with personal experiences, advice, or questions. In almost every video, multiple questions and discussions are happening, with plenty of responses from multiple other users. While TikTok has a similar community, it’s not as prominent as Xiaohongshu.

Xiaohongshu is a Chinese-based app, so naturally, the content will be more geared towards Chinese users. Even with the increase in foreign users, the majority of the content is centered around Chinese celebrities and trends. However, I think it’s really cool to get to experience a different culture, even if it’s through an app. One thing I find fascinating is the differences in beauty standards. For Example, things considered attractive to Chinese users are porcelain skin, large round eyes, and soft pink lips. It’s a learning experience and gives me some perspective on another country’s culture. There isn’t a ton of diversity among influencers compared to TikTok, which I think is primarily due to the strict beauty standards and lack of diversity in Chinese online forums.

This app is like TikTok, but better. It has better content, better comment sections, and better politics. I would definitely recommend checking it out.