The good thing about internet-based services is that, they have the ability to target anyone around the globe as their users.
The thing is, they're required to obey local laws where they want operate. And in the U.S., during the moment Donald Trump readies himself to be the President again, things don't look too good for the ever-popular TikTok.
It all started when the Senate passed a law in April that would require TikTok to stop operating in the U.S., starting January 19, if it didn't divest itself from its Chinese-based owner, ByteDance. And as the divest-or-ban deadline closes, TikTok users were left in a limbo.
They need to find a home to stay.
And apparently, many of them have found an alternative, which also comes from China.
It's called 'RedNote.'
And it didn't take long until RedNote becomes the most downloaded iPhone app in the US. As of Thursday evening, it still holds the top spot.
For over a decade, China's social media landscape has operated in its own distinct world, thriving in its own isolated ecosystem.
Without access to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Google, or Instagram, the country has developed a reliance on local apps such as BiliBili, Weibo, Baidu, and, others.
And this time, Xiaohongshu has emerged as a one of those choices locals in China can use.
Xiaohongshu, which goes by the name RedNote in international markets, has transformed into an unexpected bridge between China's internet and America's.
RedNote resembles Instagram, like how it emphasizes photos presented in a grid-like feed. In China itself, it has been recognized as a hub for beauty and lifestyle content, particularly among young women.
But the sudden surge of new users came during the time TikTok was leaving users in the U.S. in limbo.
Thinking that they have no where to go, those users who flocked to RedNote are dubbing themselves "TikTok Refugees," for a good reason. These people that come in many, have flooded RedNote with memes and introduction videos.
These TikTok refugees flocked to RedNote in defiance of security warnings the U.S. government have issued.
Trying to make themselves at home in a world considered foreign to them, they kicked off cross-cultural discussions. And not very surprisingly, a lot of them quickly call RedNote a home to them.
This is because many of them have engaged in friendly conversations with the users in China, and shared each other’s lives.
Chinese users are welcoming these U.S. citizens as part of their own, and even uploaded welcome posts and tutorials on Chinese online slang.
Some have even taken the opportunity to ask for help with their English homework.
The White House said that:
Usually, international users have little incentive or opportunity to dive into Chinese social media apps, especially because they are purposefully made to cater local audiences and are often locked behind strict user requirements that align with Beijing's government standards.
Weibo, for example, requires all users to register with their full names, and the app displays their location and gender to other users.
Even TikTok, founded by Chinese company Bytedance, is separate from China's version of the app, Douyin.
But politics don't blend with the internet, and cross-border interactions on RedNote have been mostly friendly, at a time when U.S.-China tensions have dominated global politics.
"It's so amazing to have you here," said one Chinese user in a viral post. "For so long, we haven't been able to connect or talk to each other like this. But now we finally can, and it feels so special."
His video, titled "American friends please stay here," received over 174,000 likes.
TikTok's struggle has brought unexpected benefits to platforms. Other than Xiaohongshu, is Lemon8, which is also owned by ByteDance.
TikTok is now accessible again in the United States. Just how long that lasts will likely depend on incoming President Donald Trump.
Days later, TikTok is restored, just days after it went dark, with TikTok crediting Donald Trump for bringing the app back for the people in the U.S..