A journey from TikTok to RedNote is a story of talks

The recent surge of American "TikTok refugees" flooding into China's social media app Red-Note presents a fascinating case of how fundamental human needs for social connection can transcend political boundaries.

Due to fears of a ban on TikTok services in the US, an unprecedented phenomenon has emerged: Although the app restored service hours after a temporary disruption on Sunday, thousands of TikTok users in the United States have found "refuge" on another Chinese social media platform, often considered the Asian counterpart of Instagram.

This migration challenges the conventional assumption of how political forces shape media consumption patterns. Traditionally, the media choices of people have been heavily influenced by political considerations, often unconsciously guided by invisible political forces and calculations. But the current exodus of netizens from TikTok to Red-Note reveals a more profound fact: basic human desire for social connection and self-expression can override political constraints.

The phenomenon becomes particularly intriguing when considering the historical context of US-China relations. At a time when tensions between the two countries are running high, and when US consumers are generally expected to shy away from Chinese platforms, exactly the opposite has been happening. This paradox highlights the gap between high-level political maneuvering and ground-level human behavior. Users have shown that their social media choices stem primarily from a desire to maintain established patterns of online social interactions and content consumption.

What makes this migration especially significant is its organic nature. Unlike orchestrated campaigns or politically motivated movements, this shift appears to be purely user-driven, sparked by a genuine need to find an alternative platform that offers functions similar to TikTok. The users' primary concern is not the political orientation of the country where the app was developed, but rather its ability to meet their social media needs — whether the app shares lifestyle content, allows them to engage with like-minded individuals or simply stay connected with their online communities.

For many creative individuals who have turned their social media presence on TikTok into full-time careers, the ban on the platform represents not just social inconvenience but a direct threat to their livelihood. Their concerns are more practical, as they have to maintain their audience base, preserve their revenue sources and continue their content creation business.

This migration demonstrates the growing disconnect between state-level political actions and individual consumers' behavior. While political entities may view social media platforms as tools of influence or potential security threats, users see them primarily as essential utilities for modern life — as basic as telephone services or email. This disconnect highlights the limitations of using political measures to control social media usage in an increasingly interconnected world.

The implications extend beyond the immediate context of TikTok and Red-Note. It suggests that in an increasingly digitalized world, the power of human connection might be stronger than previously recognized.

While political forces can influence media consumption patterns, they cannot entirely override the fundamental human need for digital connection and expression. As "TikTok refugees" enthusiastically engage in cross-cultural interactions with Chinese users on RedNote, creating genuine moments of human connection that transcend national boundaries, it is time for those playing the political card to reconsider people's fundamental needs in the digital age.

The flourishing digital cultural exchanges taking place on RedNote serve as a powerful reminder that in an era where online platforms have become integral to both people's social lives and economic survival, policy decisions need to reflect this new reality rather than being dictated purely by political calculations.

The author is a professor at the School of Journalism, Chongqing University.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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