‘XHS Faces Racism from Americans’: Users Experience Discrimination on TikTok’s Chinese Replacement

With the recent ban of TikTok in the United States on January 19, an influx of users has turned towards RedNote, a prominent social media platform operating out of China. However, the reception of this app by American users has raised concerns.

This shift to RedNote (known in China as Xiaohongshu or XHS) occurred swiftly after the TikTok ban announcement, catapulting the app to the forefront of the Apple App Store in the U.S. Chinese users, welcoming the new arrivals, affectionately referred to these newcomers as “TikTok refugees.” This transition was initially celebrated as an opportunity for cultural exchange. Unfortunately, some American users have begun to undermine this positive experience.

Are American Users Undermining RedNote?

RedNote, being predominantly a Chinese-owned platform, naturally attracts a majority of Chinese users. As American users began to populate the app, many Chinese individuals celebrated this influx with welcoming videos, sharing their excitement. However, they also provided important guidelines on what types of content are considered inappropriate for RedNote, such as explicit material, political discussions, and racially charged comments, which were deemed unacceptable.

People already being Sinophobic and predatory on there, oh but let’s make enby the villain as always. https://t.co/YZCFJgkBYc pic.twitter.com/LaShQxQvOH

— nonbinary barista (@Uph34v3l) January 14, 2025

While the majority of users adhered to these guidelines, a vocal minority disregarded them, leading some to claim that American users are already compromising RedNote’s integrity. Given the app’s interface and language predominantly being in Chinese, there have been calls from some American users for others to communicate in English. This demand has often been paired with inappropriate comments that perpetuate racial stereotypes, such as offensive jokes about data theft or derogatory references involving animals.

xhs is being “raided” by americans since tiktok is getting banned and most of them r harassing chinese people for speaking chinese being racist and weird and just generally ruining what the app was for

— aya (@yizhuodolI) January 14, 2025

Furthermore, explicit content has seeped into the platform, where some users have employed inappropriate NSFW images as responses. Some foreign content creators have even expressed their desire to find Chinese partners, an action that can be interpreted as fetishization rather than genuine appreciation, further alienating the local user base.

white american asian fetishizers flocking to rednote to completely ruin the app for its intended audience pic.twitter.com/PnbmgS2NCl

— ㅇㅅㅇ (@moomlip) January 16, 2025

Some shows, including controversial anime like *My Hero Academia*, have been banned in China for containing themes considered disrespectful. Despite this, some American users continue to post clips and fan art related to these shows, disregarding the cultural sensitivities of their new online community. When confronted, many express indifference towards the sentiments of long-time RedNote users.

Unfortunately, those defending the rights of upset Chinese users often face harassment, including hate speech and even death threats. This is particularly disheartening given the initial enthusiasm from Chinese netizens who welcomed their American counterparts. As RedNote is primarily a platform rooted in Chinese cultural practices and aesthetics, there is an urgent need for American users to engage with it respectfully and thoughtfully.

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