When Chinese users opened Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), they were in for a surprise—tons of “new faces” had flooded the platform. The reason? A sudden surge of American TikTok users who were looking for a new home after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it might revisit the idea of banning TikTok.
Why Are U.S. Users Flocking to Xiaohongshu?
After the news of a potential TikTok ban, Xiaohongshu quickly became the app of choice for U.S. users. By January 14th, Xiaohongshu had soared to the top of the U.S. App Store’s free app chart, and Google Trends showed a spike in searches for the app, peaking at 100.
As of 9 PM Beijing time on January 14th, #tiktok had accumulated over 1.3 billion views on Xiaohongshu. American users are making their presence known, and they’re using hashtags like #tiktok, #xiaohongshu, and #USA to mark their digital territory. The app has quickly turned into a hotspot for global cross-talk between Chinese and American users.
TikTok refugees paying the cat tax on Xiaohongshu
One of the most unexpected things to happen since this digital migration? The “cat tax” trend. American users, eager to fit in, have started introducing themselves on Xiaohongshu by sharing photos of their cute cats. This has prompted Chinese users to jump into the conversation with their own adorable feline photos, creating a heartwarming and hilarious exchange.
In fact, some Chinese users have even started playfully demanding that American users “pay the cat tax” by sharing their cat pictures. The hashtag #cattax has exploded, with over 3,000 posts, 1.7 million views, and more than 50,000 discussions.
Pets, Pandas, and the Power of Humor
It’s not just cats that are taking over the platform. Pets of all kinds, from dogs to horses (and even mice!), are being proudly shown off. One particularly funny post had a photoshopped image of a giant panda eating hot pot, with the caption, “Hello, American friends, this is my pet. Let’s be friends!” It’s clear that both sides are finding humor and connection in their shared love of animals.
Chinese users asked American users to help solve grammar problems
Another trending topic? English homework! Chinese users have started posting their English assignments on Xiaohongshu, asking American users for help with grammar, comprehension questions, and more. And guess what? Many Americans have eagerly stepped in to help, offering answers to homework questions and even volunteering to assist with entire assignments.
However, things got interesting when some American users began questioning the accuracy of their fellow Americans’ answers, especially when they noticed cultural differences in language. As one American user pointed out, “A lot of Americans speak colloquial English, while Chinese students are taught British English grammar.” The digital classroom is alive and well, even on Xiaohongshu.
Beyond pets and homework, there’s a shared desire from both sides to make new friends. Chinese users are inviting American users to connect, with phrases like “I want a foreign friend” or “我要交朋友” echoing across posts. To bridge the language gap, some users are relying on translation tools, often posting in a mix of Chinese and English.
The idea of learning Chinese has also sparked a lot of interest, with some users expressing a desire to improve their language skills and connect with others more deeply. There’s even been talk of Xiaohongshu adding a built-in translation feature to make communication easier and foster even more global connections.
What’s Next for the TikTok Refugees on Xiaohongshu?
The arrival of these TikTok refugees has definitely added a new energy to Xiaohongshu. While cultural differences and language barriers still exist, the platform has become a meeting point for global users who are eager to connect, share, and explore.
As long as the app continues to evolve and new users find their footing, the #cattax trend and digital homework sessions might just be the beginning of what could be a long-lasting digital exchange.