Technology AI, Science and New Things
TikTok may be back online in the US, but a new rival is hoping to capitalise on last week’s uncertainty.
Xiaohongshu, translated as “little red book” and known internationally as RedNote, has added English translation capabilities to accommodate millions of TikTok ‘refugees’ who have joined the app in the past few days. The app is also hiring English-speaking moderators.
RedNote, which is based in China and follows strict censorship rules, has benefited from an influx of US users wanting to show they don’t care about TikTok’s alleged links to Beijing.
This has brought about cultural exchanges between US and Chinese users on the app, from discussions about giant pandas to questions about American work culture.
TikTok’s return may make these moments fleeting, but somewhere beyond the firewall is the vision of a better Internet.
