TikTok Users Flock to App with Even Deeper Ties to China
TikTok users are flocking to an app with even deeper ties to China as the possible ban on the app approaches.
Xiaohongshu, which is being referred to as RedNote by American users, jumped to the top of app stores in the U.S. after TikTok users began encouraging each other to download the app instead of moving to another American-owned app as a form of protest.
RedNote is owned by Xingyin Information Technology, a company based in Shanghai, China. Although some American users have been referring to the app as "China's TikTok," there are some differences as users can also post photos and text posts in addition to videos, as reported by NBC News.
The surge in Americans on the app has already led to viral exchanges after one user asked Americans for help with their English homework.
Meanwhile, several users have posted about the possibilities of sharing new ideas and getting to know other cultures. One Chinese user referred to it as a "historic moment" while one American user emphasized that they want to be "respectful" to the community, CNN reported.
"Users are finding creative ways to transcend language barriers, navigate cultural differences, and co-exist in fascinating ways," Ivy Yang, a China tech analyst, told CNN. "This community building happening in real time could have lasting impact, and I'm cautiously optimistic."
As U.S. law stands, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has until Jan. 19 to sell the app to an American company or else the app could be banned in the United States. However, the ban is still awaiting review by the Supreme Court, as reported by the BBC.
Proponents of the ban argue that TikTok poses security risks, meanwhile advocates argue that a ban on the app infringes on citizens' right to freedom of speech.
-- Originally published on Latin Times
