U.S. Supreme Court Set to Rule on TikTok Ban, Sparking Migration to Chinese App Xiaohongshu
Chinese Netizens Welcome “TikTok Refugees” Amid U.S. Ban Speculation. A surprising new trend has emerged on China’s popular social platform Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote), where foreign users, particularly from the United States, have flocked to the app amidst the uncertainty surrounding a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. This wave of users, jokingly referred to as “TikTok refugees,” has generated considerable buzz, and the hashtag #TikTokRefugee has quickly gone viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of posts.
The migration comes as the U.S. government inches closer to potentially banning TikTok, a platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, over national security concerns. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the matter by Jan. 19, potentially enforcing a law that could either ban TikTok or force ByteDance to sell the app to an American company. With TikTok boasting over 170 million users in the U.S., nearly half the country’s population, the stakes are high.
In response to the looming ban, many U.S. TikTok users have turned to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app that combines the features of Instagram and Pinterest, in search of a new social media home. This influx of new users has led to a surge in activity on Xiaohongshu, driving it to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store’s download rankings within days.
Xiaohongshu, which initially focused on shopping tips, has evolved into a diverse lifestyle platform offering everything from travel guides to product reviews and even e-commerce. As users transition from TikTok, many have found the app to be a welcoming and familiar environment, especially given its short video format.
Chinese netizens have warmly embraced the newcomers, sharing food recommendations, travel tips, and even offering language lessons to ease the transition. “Welcome you to join us in this vibrant and colorful community,” one user posted, while another introduced the rich flavors of Sichuan cuisine to the new arrivals.
While some “TikTok refugees” have humorously pointed out the irony of migrating to a Chinese app after the U.S. government’s efforts to ban TikTok, others have shared their excitement at finding a new platform. “You are not refugees. You all are explorers. Welcome to the new world,” one Xiaohongshu user warmly greeted the newcomers.
This migration highlights a broader trend of U.S. attempts to limit the presence of Chinese tech companies, including Huawei and DJI, in recent years. Lyu Xiang, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, noted that this phenomenon reflects dissatisfaction among U.S. consumers with the government’s suppression of foreign businesses. He suggested that Washington should adopt a more open approach to international competition and encourage domestic companies to innovate in order to meet the evolving needs of users.
As the situation continues to unfold, the influx of “TikTok refugees” onto Xiaohongshu represents a new chapter in the complex and evolving relationship between U.S. consumers and Chinese tech platforms. For now, these new users are finding a new home and community, one post, video, and hashtag at a time.
