When I Opened Xiaohongshu, I Was Stunned—Am I Still in China?

This morning at 9 AM Beijing time, I was sitting at my desk in China, browsing social media like usual. But when I opened Xiaohongshu, I was stunned. Where am I? Am I still in China?

It turns out, with TikTok’s looming deadline for potential banishment in the U.S., American users, some of whom are now called "refugees," have been saying emotional goodbyes and searching for alternatives where they can freely express themselves. Xiaohongshu became their chosen platform, and they’ve been flooding in from all over the world.

From 4 AM on the morning of January 13th, Xiaohongshu’s ranking on the U.S. App Store skyrocketed by over 200 spots. As of now, it’s holding the number one spot in the download charts.

What’s interesting is that Xiaohongshu doesn’t have an international version—it’s the same Chinese app, with a global user base. Now, the atmosphere on the platform feels like a family reunion during Chinese New Year. Though there’s a language barrier, people are eager to interact with foreign users. It’s like a language exchange: foreigners are excited to learn Chinese, and many of them are even asking for Chinese teachers, while local users are using Chinese memes to welcome them. There’s something strangely heartwarming about the cultural exchange happening here.

So, why aren’t they flocking to X or Facebook instead? The reason is simple—Americans are increasingly rebelling against their government. Many have had enough of Meta and Elon Musk, so the native platforms are out of the picture. Xiaohongshu, on the other hand, can be accessed by anyone with a global phone number—it doesn’t require a Chinese number to sign up. Plus, the app has already had a large overseas following from international students, so this influx of users makes perfect sense.

However, this wave of international users has created quite a cultural shock. I’ve already seen discussions on sensitive political and religious topics, and it seems like Xiaohongshu will be working around the clock to manage it all. Interestingly, the platform isn’t quite prepared for international users—it doesn’t even have a translation feature. Posts aren't translated, and there’s no easy way to bridge the language gap.

That’s where XXAI comes in. As part of our overseas promotion efforts, we’re leveraging our product’s strengths—our translation feature is perfect for this situation. If you don’t quite get a certain Chinese meme or slang, our powerful search function will help you navigate the web without any barriers.

Many people wonder if this massive influx of foreigners could lead to Xiaohongshu being banned or undergoing heavy regulation. Personally, I think it’s unlikely. Xiaohongshu has long had a significant overseas user base, especially among students studying abroad, so global content and international users are nothing new for them. As long as their servers remain in China and their data is properly registered and regulated, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

And so, here we are in the magical year of 2025. The new year started with two major events. On the streets of Shanghai’s Wukang Road, wealthy Chinese showed off luxury cars to stunned Koreans. Online, American cyber refugees are experiencing Chinese culture firsthand, and the whole world is joining in to learn Chinese.

This is truly a time of global unity, where different languages and cultures come together. Social media has been a part of our lives for decades, and we’ve long adapted to this "hybrid" form of communication, filled with text, images, videos, and memes. Through these, we connect with people on the other side of the screen. Perhaps that’s the essence of socializing—to open a window that lets us see a different world and share our own lives, thoughts, and experiences.