Ccute cats Fit check. Travel video blog. Luigi Mangione's latte art. Americans who downloaded RedNote saw it all this week, as it fled to the Chinese social media app ahead of TikTok's impending (or not) ban.
RedNote, whose default language is Mandarin, is filled with English content, where Americans post introductions and start cross-cultural discussions. How much do you pay for groceries? What Chinese slang should I know? Do you have any opinions about Ohio State?
Qian Huang, a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands who studies Asian youth and digital culture, said he originally downloaded RedNote to keep up with trends in China. “But this week I woke up and my feed was no longer my usual feed,” Huang said. “It was all English content. It felt a little strange to me.”
Despite data privacy concerns, the app topped the U.S. app store on Tuesday with more than 500,000 downloads from new users after last week's Supreme Court hearing on the future of TikTok. Ta. Technology reporter Ryan Broderick noticed In his Garbage Day newsletter, Black TikTok beauty influencers said they were aware of RedNote's potential in makeup tutorials and trend spotting before the hearing.
RedNote user promotes unity between China and America. Photo: Red Note
Although RedNote is primarily a video sharing app, users can also share photo galleries with questions and encourage discussion in the comments. Much of the content is similar to what you'll find on Instagram's Explore page. Posts from Chinese influencers and ordinary people about what they eat, how they exercise, and what they wear in a day. The app's Chinese name, “Xiaohongshu,” means “little red book,” a reference to a collection of Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong's favorite sayings.
Similar to TikTok's famous scroll, RedNote “has a very specific algorithm that tailors what you see to your preferences,” Huang says. He also said the app will focus on e-commerce and include shopping options aimed primarily at a female audience. The Shanghai-based startup that owns RedNote has taken steps to reach male users over the past two years.
In China, a digital firewall blocks most internet users from foreign search engines and social media sites such as Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp. social media is strictly regulatedand the government targets specific bloggers and their followers who have made critical or opposing comments. RedNote's new users may feel that the impending U.S. TikTok ban is comparable to Chinese government censorship (although calling themselves “TikTok refugees” is certainly a uniquely American take on the dramatic). It speaks volumes about his talent).
RedNote's algorithm loves alleged CEO shooter Luigi Mangione. Photo: Red Note
China has its own version of the TikTok app called Douyin, but RedNote is notable in that the app is integrated rather than split into two versions. Chinese users are mixed with users from the rest of the world. Jiali Huang, a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge who is researching RedNote, said many of the app's longtime users feel like it's their first time interacting with Americans online.
“Chinese people have always felt like they live in the only country where internet space is really restricted,” Fan said. “Americans are going through the same thing right now. [the TikTok ban]So now we can all relate and we all have the same struggles and problems. ”
In one popular meme, a Chinese user asks new users in the U.S. for a cat or dog “tax” (meaning a cute pet photo). Chinese teens asked Americans for help with their English homework. Influencer offers Chinese lessons for translation Must-have social media slang such as “You look so nice, young lady” and “That's amazing.”
RedNote users seek homework help from Americans. Photo: Red Note
After an early failure, a man named Jerry, who was born in Shanghai and now lives in Vancouver, misidentified The American reporter became the app's CEO after posting a friendly welcome video to RedNote followers. Jerry had to post another video clarifying that he was actually “just a regular guy.”
Luigi Mangione, who was charged with murder in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has also become a hot topic on the app. Chinese influencers have been cosplaying as Mangione in court and posting “makeup tutorials” on how to imitate Mangione's mug shot. There are also Luigi's fan edits, Luigi's latte art, and due process explanations from people who believe he was given an unfair trial by the media.
“It's just because he looks good,” Huang said, echoing the canonization of Mangione by some in the United States who consider him a national hero. “If you want to be famous for Xia Hongshu, you have to be beautiful. That's how the algorithm works.”
Much of RedNote's humor comes from Chinese influencers welcoming Americans to the app while lightly insulting them. “Don't worry, we're not like Americans. We're not telling you to go back to your home country,” said Yvonne, a prominent influencer with more than 650,000 followers on the app. Du said in English in the video.
Another user joked that he was a “Chinese spy,” mocking concerns from American politicians about the Chinese government using TikTok to access Americans' data. There is. Anti-TikTok politicians probably won't like RedNote either. Cybersecurity experts say the app collects extensive personal data and may share it with third-party platforms and the Chinese government.
“A major red flag is the app's lack of transparency. The terms of service are primarily written in Mandarin, and non-Chinese speaking users are not informed of what data is collected and how it is used. “It's not clear what's going on,” said Adrianus Warmenhoven, cybersecurity expert at NordVPN. statement. “Beyond privacy, there are concerns about content censorship. RedNote's content moderation policies may align with Chinese government standards and may stifle free speech and expose users to biased information. there is.”
An anonymous US official told CBS News that RedNote could face the same restrictions as TikTok. unless you sell it From a Chinese-owned company.
So far, most interactions between American and Chinese users appear to have been curious and mutually respectful. “This is the first time that much of China's internet has been exposed to a global audience to some extent,” Fan said. “People are very excited about this kind of direct, unfiltered communication. But we also don't know how long this situation will last or which government will do something about it. We just need to enjoy the moment.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
