TikTok is threatened with being blocked, US netizens are warmly welcomed by RedNote users in China

RedNote’s Chinese name, Xiaohongshu, means ‘Little Red Book’, not a reference to Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong’s book of quotes of the same name. However, security concerns haven’t stopped users from flocking to RedNote.

Sarah Fotheringham, 37, a school cafeteria worker in Utah, said her move to RedNote was a way to “defy” the government.

“I’m just a simple guy living a simple life,” Fotheringham told the BBC via RedNote message.

“I don’t have anything that China doesn’t have, and if they want my data, they can take it,” he added.

Marcus Robinson, a fashion designer in Virginia, said he created the RedNote account to promote his clothing brand.

He admitted that he was a little hesitant to accept the terms and conditions for using the application which were written in Mandarin.

“I can’t read it, so it’s a little concerning, but I still agree,” Robinson said.