“If you like Chinese, we kiss kiss”: How TikTok refugees are welcomed with humor on RedNote

TikTok-RedNote

As the US prepares to ban TikTok on January 19, TikTok users in America have started migrating to RedNote, a Chinese social media platform also known as Xiaohongshu. Dubbed “TikTok refugees.” This move has moved up the ranking of the RedNote app to the top of the free iPhone app downloads in the US region and has also sparked vibrant cultural exchanges.

Chinglish phrases with pun intended

According to a report by South China Morning Post, Chinese netizens have warmly greeted the newcomers, with humorous Chinglish phrases like, “If you like Chinese, we kiss kiss; if you hate Chinese, we punch punch. You talk good about China, we talk good about you; you talk bad about China, we will make you cry.”

Cultural exchange fosters playful trends
One trend gaining popularity is the “cat tax,” where new users are asked to post pet pictures to join conversations. Americans embraced the idea, captioning photos with lines like, “Here’s me paying my cat tax.” Chinese users joined in by sharing their own pet photos, creating a lively exchange of cat and dog images.

The platform has also become an unexpected hub for academic support. Chinese students began posting English homework assignments, receiving enthusiastic assistance from new users. Some foreign users joked, “The multiple-choice answers seem all correct,” while others admitted the questions were challenging even for native speakers.

Regulatory concerns and future implications
Amid the lighthearted exchanges, some users raised questions about the platform’s future. One Chinese user remarked, “We use RedNote in China, and they use TikTok abroad. Now that these TikTok creators have moved to RedNote, will they adapt to the platform? Will their presence bring any changes to RedNote?”

Despite potential challenges, the migration marks a rare moment of connection. As one user noted, “This feels like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Even if it is fleeting, just witnessing it is worth it.”