Looming TikTok ban takes US citizens closer to China

The looming US government ban on TikTok has sparked intense reactions from TikTok users in the United States, who have in recent days chosen to download Xiaohongshu (which in English means Little Red Book) to express their dissatisfaction and protest against the ban. This phenomenon not only reflects users' desire for freedom of speech but also demonstrates a non-cooperative attitude toward the US government. The more the US government bans Chinese platforms, the more users want to use them. Xiaohongshu recently became the most downloaded app on the US App Store.

In a short period, TikTok has become one of the most popular platforms globally, with downloads reaching 3 billion and active users totaling 1.5 billion. It has become the favorite platform for young US citizens, averaging a daily usage time (50 minutes per day) that surpasses that of YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to reach the top.

For many netizens, meanwhile, TikTok has become a part of their lives; it is not just a platform for sharing short videos, but also a space for social interaction and creativity, with many influencers turning it into a source of income.

The US always claims to be the land of freedom, yet it contradicts itself when it comes to free trade. Seeing TikTok's rising popularity, the US government forces ByteDance to sell it; seeing Chinese-made electric vehicles and other goods gaining popularity in the US, it imposes tariffs. In the 1980s, when the US saw Japan's semiconductor industry rise, it used "Section 301" to sanction Toshiba and the Japanese government; now it uses the same method to suppress Huawei and TikTok. Does the US really think everyone is too ignorant to notice its underlying motives? Is it truly about national security? Apple iPhone, an American company, holds the most personal data of consumers anywhere. Can China use the same method to retaliate?

In the face of an impending ban on TikTok, many US-based users are turning to Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media platform favored for its unique content-sharing model and strong community atmosphere. Users on Xiaohongshu can share their shopping experience, lifestyle and various creative and informational content. What do you want to eat? What are you looking for? Everyone turns to Xiaohongshu for answers. This has made it rapidly popular among young people.

American netizens downloading Xiaohongshu is not just a platform shift; it is also an act of protest against the US government's decision. Many believe this is in defense of freedom of speech. By downloading Xiaohongshu, users are attempting to show that they will not easily give up their beloved social media platform and hope the government will reconsider the ban on TikTok.

Actually Xiaohongshu has a largely domestic user base and had never planned to tap overseas markets. TikTok refugees have left comments on Xiaohongshu expressing a desire to learn Mandarin and learn more about China; some even stated they are aware of the US' scheme to portray China as an enemy to suppress it, thereby attempting to consolidate its own power. Others went to the extent of saying they do not mind if their data is shared with China. It seems that the more the US government suppresses TikTok, the greater the resentment among US netizens, prompting them to resist even more! This is likely something the US did not anticipate.

The actions of TikTok refugees show how a country that claims to be a democracy does not grant freedom to its own people. What right does it then have to point an accusing finger at other countries? I hope that foreigners can take this opportunity to experience and understand China firsthand; China absolutely welcomes everyone!

The author is a Hong Kong-based commentator. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily. 

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