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Unless the U.S. Supreme Court steps in and issues a last-minute decision to stop the action, the U.S. government has stated that it will formally prohibit TikTok on Sunday, January 19.
Many TikTok users have turned their focus to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese video-sharing website that is also known as RedNote or Red Book in English, as a result of this upcoming ban. Some have viewed this exodus as a rebellious reaction against American authorities.
This change is significant since, interestingly, RedNote has been the top-ranked app on the Apple App Store in the United States for the second day in a row. Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
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It’s still unclear if RedNote users in the US will stick with it over time. The potential that TikTok could avoid the ban if it is able to complete a sale to an American corporation or if individuals like President-elect Donald Trump step in to intervene adds to this uncertainty.
The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote
Despite recent reports from Bloomberg that Elon Musk was interested in purchasing TikTok, the site quickly refuted these accusations on Monday night. On RedNote, conversations between Chinese and American users have taken on a fascinating, techno-utopian tone, indicating a yearning for cross-cultural interaction.
There has been a significant technology gap separating the digital worlds of China and the United States for many years. Nonetheless, both new and existing users of RedNote see it as a chance for significant cross-cultural interaction. A “global village,” where technology would allow people from all over the world to converse freely and peacefully, is reminiscent of the idea from the 1990s.
Unfortunately, this goal has been severely hampered by policies like the U.S.’s massive surveillance programs and China’s Great Firewall. Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
“Seeing TikTok refugees flocking to RedNote reminds me of the early 2000s when the internet genuinely felt like a global village,” wrote Zoey, a RedNote user, in a sentimental video reflecting on the surge of TikTok users joining the platform.
Zoey likened this situation to the old-fashioned idea of pen pals, in which individuals from all over the world corresponded with one another to learn about other cultures and hone their language skills. As a student in China, she clarified, her school encouraged students to improve their English by composing fictitious letters to pen pals in English-speaking nations, such as the United States or the United Kingdom.
Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
“When I first started learning English in school in China, we acted like we had international pen pals,” Zoey recalled. To practice, we would compose letters in English. That experience is quite similar to what is going on on RedNote.
Zoey highlighted the interest and desire to connect that many people have, even if she acknowledged the early confusion of the migration.
In a time when the internet has become so fractured and dominated by echo chambers, Zoey said, “It’s amazing how the desire to connect and communicate transcends so many barriers,” calling the scenario “magical.”
Naturally, not every exchange on RedNote is serious. The platform is overflowing with amusing posts from Chinese and American users making fun of the cultural changes. While some seasoned RedNote users humorously assert that they are “spies” watching Americans, others provide helpful advice like staying away from trolls or trying to communicate in Mandarin. Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
In a funny response to the cultural differences, one user said in English, “At the end of the day, we’re not that different,” but he also alluded to the necessity of abiding by the platform’s unspoken “rules.”
“Yes, there are rules,” the user explained. “There are some things you just don’t say here, but overall the platform is laid back. My best recommendation? Apply common sense.
Even though RedNote has become popular among Americans, it is by no means a utopia, particularly for individuals who respect liberal democratic principles and free speech. The software functions in accordance with Chinese government regulations, which forbid information that is critical of the Communist Party. In China, where crackdowns on related groups have taken place recently, campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights is also severely restricted.
It’s interesting to note that discussions concerning subjects like Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, may provide Americans greater freedom on RedNote.
Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
RedNote seems to place less limitations on content related to Mangione than platforms like TikTok, which have actively repressed such information.
The platform’s change has also prompted amusement and irony from American TikTok users, who point out that English-speaking creators in other nations may not be subject to the same limitations. “When we’re gone, what’s TikTok going to be?” asked Mystery of Kyle, a U.S. user, in reference to British users still using the app. A British app? Without us, how will you all manage?
“To be honest, what are you guys going to talk about?” he continued. Fish in a can? When we depart, the guy analyzing canned fish will most likely be the top creator.
Learn more on “The 1990s Techno-Utopian Vision Lives On Through RedNote.”
