Displaced American TikTok users have migrated en masse to the Chinese lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, only to discover that the Chinese app serving primarily Chinese users doesn’t cater exclusively to their needs.
Naturally, Americans are furious.
“I don’t understand why nothing is in English,” complained Florida-based influencer Alex Brook, 67, indicating a Xiaohongshu post featuring a guide to dim sum restaurants in Guangzhou. “Americans are the most oppressed, underprivileged people on this planet. When will the international community stand up for us?”
Brook’s first post on Xiaohongshu, an “OOTD” which she unknowingly tagged under a community for pottery enthusiasts, received no likes, prompting her to call the app “toxic” and “exclusionary.”
“It’s giving gatekeeping,” she said in an Instagram story to her 238 followers, adding that she planned to “take a social media detox,” after trying again tomorrow.
Xiaohongshu’s Chinese users were both amused and bewildered by the exodus of what they’ve dubbed “TikTok refugees.” One user posted screenshots of American captions translated into Mandarin, such as “Slay queen” becoming “Kill the monarch” and “Hot Girl Summer” turning into “Scorching Female Season.” Another user commented, “What is a ‘grindset’?”
“It’s actually disgusting that they haven’t made this app accessible for us,” said Olivia Stanton, 25, who was deeply offended when she couldn’t find the search bar because it was labeled in Mandarin. “Do they not know how many people speak English? We’re literally, like, the global majority or whatever.” (Note: English is spoken by approximately 17% of the world’s population.)
Stanton also expressed frustration at the complete disregard for her personal convenience.
“How am I supposed to know what any of these buttons mean?” asked Stanton. “I clicked something, and now my for-you page says I’m really into pickled vegetables.”
Other American users are taking to Google Translate for help posting in Mandarin. Unfortunately, many of these efforts have backfired spectacularly. A beauty influencer attempting to write “Glass skin is my passion” inadvertently captioned her post, “I crave shiny meat.” Another user’s attempt to share their favorite quote, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” became “Enjoy leisure, reject employment, forever.”
Still, a small number of determined Americans insist on adapting to Xiaohongshu. “It’s like, really humbling,” said self-proclaimed cultural ambassador Emily Taylor, who has started a series of Xiaohongshu posts teaching Chinese users about American traditions like pumpkin spice lattes and road rage.
The results have left Chinese users in stitches. “Are they okay?” asked Xiaohongshu user Lin Jianhong, sharing a screenshot of an American post titled “Life Hack: How to Peel a Boiled Egg,” which has been tagged as #existentialism.
“This is a platform for lifestyle content, not whatever ‘chasing the bag’ is,” complained Zhang Jingwei, a Shanghai-based entrepreneur.
As of now, it’s unclear whether or not the Chinese government will instate quotas or enact a complete ban and deportation order to limit the influx of American refugees.
“How am I supposed to relate to Gaokao tips and ancient tea ceremonies?” Brook said. “It’s almost like it wasn’t made for me.”