“I heard the Chinese citizens of Red Note are asking for a pet tax from all new American refugees. Here's my submission to the pet tax. I hope it will suffice,“ said @El Vampiro, a US user on Xiaohongshu, alongside a photo of his cats.

　　“Well received. Here's your refund,“ replied a Chinese user under the post with her cat on the other side of the world.

　　Cultural shock

　　But not all cultural exchanges have a happy ending.

　　Beijing-based user Yuzijiang faced a backlash from several US newcomers for “perpetuating prejudice, stereotyping, and cultural appropriation“ of African American culture after posting a video of herself dancing with her curly hair.

　　While many US users expressed support for her, criticizing that “America's cancel culture is already starting“, the blogger ultimately wrote a long post in the comment section to apologize. She clarified that her hairstyle was not intended to offend, but was simply something she found aesthetically pleasing.

　　Many Chinese users, however, have expressed discomfort with such encounters, fearing that US-driven political correctness, US-dominated ideology and many “unhealthy“ subcultures, such as porn, gambling and drug-taking, might take root in the Chinese online environment.

　　Cui from Fudan University said that the influx of “TikTok refugees“ may be temporary.

　　Since the political correctness landscape in the US differs greatly from that in China, in the long run, it would be difficult for US culture to take root in Chinese internet society and have a lasting impact on Xiaohongshu's ecosystem.

　　Whether or not Xiaohongshu plans to take measures to protect its core user base, the arrival of TikTok refugees presents a unique opportunity for the platform to reassess its international strategy and expand into English-speaking countries beyond the Chinese cultural sphere, Cui added.