Since mid-January 2025, hundreds of thousands of U.S. TikTok users have flocked to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote). (Screenshot composite / Dajiyuan)
[People News] This January, following the U.S. Supreme Court's enforcement of a ban on TikTok, tens of thousands of TikTok users migrated to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote). According to foreign media investigations, this phenomenon was not spontaneous, but rather a carefully planned operation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Through pro-CCP influencers and an orchestrated propaganda campaign, so-called "TikTok refugees" were systematically redirected to Xiaohongshu. Commentators warn that governments worldwide should recognize the danger of the CCP using high-tech digital authoritarian tools to spread its ideology and should completely ban such Chinese applications.
The Rapid Migration After the TikTok Ban
The Diplomat reported on Tuesday (11th) that the influx of "TikTok refugees" into Xiaohongshu was not merely the result of individual user choices, but rather a state-backed "relocation campaign." This development has raised serious concerns about digital privacy, online influence, and cybersecurity.
In January 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban, though the restriction had been delayed for 75 days since the Trump administration era. During this chaotic transition period, certain high-profile influencers and internet celebrities began promoting Xiaohongshu as the best alternative to TikTok. As a result, millions of TikTok users quickly flocked to Xiaohongshu under the influence of these promotions.
A Carefully Orchestrated Digital Relocation Campaign
This movement began on January 13, 2025, one week before the TikTok ban took effect. By January 14, global social media activity surrounding hashtags like "Xiaohongshu" (#RedNote) and "TikTok Refugee" (#TikTokRefugee) surged to an all-time high. A large number of influencers claimed to be "TikTok refugees" and heavily promoted Xiaohongshu on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
As a Chinese social media app similar to TikTok, Xiaohongshu's rise is closely tied to the ongoing digital warfare between China and the United States. The name "Xiaohongshu" (literally "Little Red Book") is symbolic of the Chinese Communist Party’s revolutionary history, yet promoters framed it as the ideal replacement for TikTok while downplaying its data security concerns through misinformation campaigns.
Pro-CCP Influencers and Bot Networks Drive Promotion
The initial wave of Xiaohongshu promotion was driven by two main types of accounts: 1. Pro-CCP influencers – These individuals frequently used Mandarin phrases like "Nihao" (Hello) and praised Chinese government policies and technology in their content. 2. Bot-like accounts – These accounts posted large volumes of content in a short time, repeatedly used the same hashtags, and displayed patterns indicative of coordinated influence operations aligned with CCP strategic objectives.
On X (Twitter), posts about Xiaohongshu peaked on January 14, with over 1,100 tweets containing the keyword "Xiaohongshu". Many of these posts came from influencers known for their pro-CCP stance, including accounts like @CarlZha, @thinking_panda, and @LQniupitang.
On Instagram, the hashtag "#TikTokRefugee" surged on January 15, with over 830 posts related to the topic. This trend mirrored the spike seen on X, indicating a coordinated digital influence campaign actively pushing Xiaohongshu as the next "safe haven" for TikTok users. Similar promotional activities were also observed on Facebook, Weibo, and even TikTok itself.
Doubts Among Chinese Students Regarding the Movement
Lu Chen (pseudonym), a Chinese student in Germany, told Radio Free Asia that he noticed a number of pro-China influencers shaping narratives in January, which led him to question this phenomenon.
Lu Chen remarked, "At that time, I found it quite strange. Whether on Twitter or Instagram, there were tags like 'TikTokRefugee' everywhere, making this topic very popular. Later, when I saw many pro-Communist influencers promoting it, I began to have doubts. This doesn't seem to be just a matter of user choice; rather, it appears to be a guided initiative by the Chinese Communist Party."
Privacy Risks and Security Concerns Surrounding Xiaohongshu
These targeted influence campaigns resulted in a significant increase in downloads of Xiaohongshu in the United States between January 13 and 16. Following this, official Chinese media began publishing articles praising the friendly exchanges between Xiaohongshu users in China and the United States.
However, the reality behind this 'viral social media movement' is even more alarming. While Xiaohongshu is marketed as a safer alternative to TikTok, it actually shares similar security and privacy vulnerabilities. Under Chinese law, all Chinese companies, regardless of their operational location, are required to cooperate with the government in intelligence gathering. Consequently, both applications must legally provide user data to the Chinese Communist Party. This implies that users who opt for Xiaohongshu in search of privacy may encounter risks they were trying to avoid.
Lu Chen criticized the negligence of European and American leaders regarding security issues related to Chinese applications.
Lu Chen stated, "I must criticize the leaders of Western countries, such as former U.S. President Biden and the soon-to-be-outgoing German Chancellor Scholz, for opening TikTok accounts. This behavior serves to demonstrate and encourage ordinary citizens to engage with Chinese electronic opiates. On a personal level, it raises concerns about user information security, but on a broader scale, it poses a national security threat."
Comment: The Global Threat of Digital Totalitarianism
French independent filmmaker and current affairs commentator Wang Longmeng expressed to Radio Free Asia that under the meticulous planning of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), being a "TikTok user" is akin to "jumping from one well to another."
Wang Longmeng elaborated, "Both TikTok and Xiaohongshu are companies under Chinese control, capable of handing over user information to the CCP at any moment. The CCP possesses numerous similar tools, always having one that fits your needs. Particularly, when the CCP observed the potential ban of TikTok in the United States, they promptly initiated their transfer strategy, cleverly promoting the migration of TikTok users to Xiaohongshu, which is essentially like jumping from one well to another."
Wang Longmeng further cautioned that nations should recognize the risks associated with the CCP's use of high-tech digital totalitarian methods to export ideology and should take decisive action to completely block these Chinese applications.
Wang Longmeng stated, "The Chinese Communist authorities have been establishing a high-tech digital totalitarian model for some time. In the past, they took advantage of platforms like WeChat and TikTok to penetrate European and American markets, collecting users' personal data and employing big data analysis to send targeted messages during political elections. This clearly represents a model of digital warfare, aimed at spreading dictatorial ideology globally. Democratic nations must recognize the dangers posed by this digital warfare and take steps to block any social media platforms controlled by the Chinese Communist government."
Global Digital Governance is Facing Significant Challenges.
According to a report by The Diplomat, this incident underscores the risks associated with 'perspective hacking' that manipulates public perception, creating an environment saturated with misinformation by distorting facts and crafting narratives that serve geopolitical goals. These tactics extend beyond mere privacy or national security concerns; they pose a fundamental threat to democracy and freedom. Countries must confront this challenge directly and take decisive measures to safeguard the integrity of digital governance, freedom of expression, and public trust.
(Adapted from Radio Free Asia)
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