Americans and Chinese Crack Jokes About ‘Alternative TikTok’ as US Ban Approaches

As a potential TikTok ban looms in the US, a unique cultural exchange is happening between Americans and Chinese citizens, who are sharing jokes and memes on a Chinese social media app called RedNote (or Xiaohongshu). This app, which doesn’t face the usual internet firewall separating China from the rest of the world, has become a new home for many Americans fleeing the anticipated TikTok ban. Despite concerns about national security, with claims that TikTok may be used by the Chinese government for surveillance, many American users are undeterred, choosing to join RedNote as an act of defiance.

On RedNote, “TikTok refugees” are engaging directly with 300 million Mandarin speakers in China and beyond, sharing humorous posts about their “Chinese spies” and having candid conversations about life, culture, and even homework help. This unexpected connection is sparking real-time, cross-cultural interactions, from playful banter about food and TV shows to discussions about language and lifestyle.

However, while this online community is growing, there are concerns that RedNote could face similar scrutiny to TikTok, with potential issues regarding data security and censorship. The app’s rapid rise in popularity among Americans has also led to a surge in new users, prompting RedNote to hire English moderators to keep up with the influx.

Though the platform is still in its early days of cross-border interaction, Chinese users are welcoming their American counterparts, even offering humorous “cat taxes” and sharing personal anecdotes. For now, it seems that despite the tensions between the US and China, a brief moment of digital unity has emerged, fueled by memes, curiosity, and a shared desire to outwit the authorities. Whether this will continue or face backlash remains uncertain, but for now, RedNote is offering a surprising space for connection.