TikTok Ban: Preparations to shut down in the US
The ban on TikTok’s operations in the US is likely to come into effect from January 19, 2025. The order against this Chinese app was passed by US President Joe Biden in view of national security, asking TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell the app. Recently, the US Supreme Court, while hearing the case, indicated that this ban could be implemented.
What is ByteDance’s strategy?
Liu Shuting, a policy analyst at the National Defense Security Institute, believes that ByteDance is using this ban to mobilize TikTok users against the US government. This strategy may help the company gain public sympathy.
Searching for an alternative to TikTok: The rise of Xiaohongshu
The potential ban of TikTok has attracted many “TikTok refugees” to Xiaohongshu. This Chinese social media platform, also known as Little Red Book, has suddenly become popular. Its download rate in the US increased by 200% and it became the most downloaded free app on the Apple App Store.
Challenges facing Xiaohongshu
Although Xiaohongshu is being considered an alternative to TikTok, there are many obstacles in its way to becoming successful internationally.
Language and cultural barriers: Xiaohongshu’s interface is not intuitive for foreign users. Most of its content is in Chinese language, which can be a challenge for international users.
Given the experience of TikTok, Xiaohongshu will also have to face US security scrutiny. Experts believe that this process will be complicated, but TikTok’s experience can help it handle it better.
Culture and censorship issue
When TikTok users came to Xiaohongshu, they experienced Chinese censorship. Some users posted on topics such as ‘Winnie the Pooh’ and ’64 Tank Man’, after which their accounts were suspended. This incident shows how different the Chinese Internet regime can be for foreign users.
Liu Shuting says, “People who do not know much about China can raise questions that are forbidden there. This is a challenge to China’s closed information system.”
Will Xiaohongshu be able to replace TikTok?
The success of Xiaohongshu will depend on how it makes its place in the international market. However, experts believe that it can change its strategies to become as popular as TikTok.
Will Trump become TikTok’s ‘savior’?
Experts believe that the possibility of Donald Trump becoming president again in 2025 could provide relief to TikTok. But given Trump’s attitude towards TikTok in 2020, it is difficult to say what action he will take this time.
TikTok Ban: What should be Taiwan’s stance?
Wu Sezhi, a Taiwanese expert, says that Taiwan should be more proactive than the US and take advanced steps to counter China’s internet strategies.
From TikTok to Xiaohongshu, Chinese social media platforms are trying to strengthen their hold internationally. But Xiaohongshu’s journey will not be easy due to US security scrutiny and linguistic-cultural barriers.
