‘You must pay your cat tax!’ is what Chinese users of Red Note, also known as Xiaohongshu, are demanding of new American users. The cat tax has sprung up following a mass exodus of American Tiktok users to Chinese app Xiaohongshu (小红书). This meme demands that foreign users of the app share pictures of their cats to compensate for the fact they don’t speak Chinese. It is one of the many new trends created out of the interaction between American and Chinese users, breaking the language barrier through images and emojis. Interactions like these are unique on the internet, due to the great firewall imposed by the Chinese government, banning western apps such as Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and many more.
The new users, labeling themselves ‘Tiktok refugees’, are fleeing for the January 19th US Tiktok ban. Biden’s administration, fearful of Chinese spying and potential for political influencing, aims to stop operation of the Chinese-owned app. In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court agreed that national security concerns justify the measure. The over 170 million users in the US, losing a source of income, expression or entertainment, didn’t all agree. Xiaohongshu was seen as a viable alternative. Furthermore, expressly choosing another Chinese app was for some users a form of protest against their government’s decision. Furthermore, some users feel that Meta had a part to play in the ban through their lobbying against Tiktok, with some calling for a Meta boycott and thus not using instagram or facebook as a Tiktok alternative. Xiaohongshu went viral, and in the week of January 13th, Xiaohongshu hit the top download spot on the App and Play stores in the US, as well as Canada and many European nations.
Xiaohongshu is best comparable to a blend of instagram and pinterest, with a section for short-form content like Tiktok. It is predominantly used to share lifestyle tips, regarding travel, make-up, cooking and so forth. Over 218 million people use it monthly, with 70% being young Chinese women. As a result, the app has a much more laid-back, informative atmosphere, which Tiktok’s dopamine-addicting content doesn’t compare to. Users are more polite, and the slurs one might find in an instagram comment section are replaced by small jests, making fun of the poster. Not to say that one can’t find any brain-rot style content, but its position is minimal.
And for the first time, American internet culture is not dominant. Whereas Tiktok, instagram and the like spread American slang, humor and culture, on Xiaohongshu, the rest of the world is learning Chinese expressions and jokes. And with the app being solely in Chinese, users are learning Mandarin en masse. Duolingo has noted a 216% increase in Mandarin in the past week. Interpersonal cultural exchanges are also taking place, with users befriending each other, and posting questions about life across the Pacific.
Some Americans are even thanking Biden for banning Tiktok, since they feel enriched by their exposure to life and culture in China. They often express discontent with the US media’s portrayal of China, realizing the reality is different. The Chinese users, in turn, are welcoming the Americans to their platform, and are eager to bridge the divide between them. Many are shocked to hear about the high cost of living, lack of public transportation, and the healthcare issues many Americans face.
The app is not without issues either, however. The strict internet censorship rules applicable in China have forced foreign users to adjust to a limited range of topics. The biggest taboos lie upon political topics, such as the oppression of muslim minorities, political dissidents and Covid-19 policies. Nudity and promotion of drugs or gambling is also strictly forbidden. However, other topics such as LGBT+ rights, poverty, modern colonialism and communist or capitalist ideology fall into a gray zone. Many accounts openly post about their same-sex partner, and commenters express support for that, or discuss their opinions. On the other hand, posts explicitly promoting an lgbt-lifestyle or the rainbow flag are liable for removal.
Keeping these issues in mind, the app is truly an insight into Chinese social media habits, as well as views on the outside world. I also decided to make a post introducing myself as a Dutch student, and sharing some pictures of Maastricht. I was immediately bombarded with questions. Were Dutch people really as tall as people said? Do we eat cheese everyday and does the government provide free tulips? Did I visit the red light district often and did I love to smoke weed? Some users liken this recent US-China cultural clash to a historical event on the level of the Berlin wall. For the first time, normal people living under clashing governments are interacting intensely with one another, learning and laughing. The Great Chinese internet firewall has a hole in it, and now everyone who wants can crawl through.
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