TikTok, the short video platform (known internationally as “Douyin”), faces its looming deadline for removal in the United States on January 19. As a result, nearly one million American users have turned to the Chinese app “Xiao Hong Book” international version, also known as RedNote. However, under the strict surveillance and censorship by the Chinese Communist Party, many users have seen their posts deleted and even their accounts banned. Some American netizens have expressed concerns about potential “backdoors” in the RedNote platform, suggesting possible vulnerabilities.
On January 13, the download volume of RedNote skyrocketed to the top spot on the free list of the Apple App Store in the U.S.
According to a report by Reuters on January 17, a source close to the company revealed that in just two days, RedNote gained over 700,000 new users. Research firm Sensor Tower estimated that RedNote’s downloads in the U.S. have increased by 194% compared to the previous week.
However, these statistics have not been officially confirmed by RedNote.
Meanwhile, the topic of whether American TikTok users can smoothly transition to RedNote and adapt to the internet censorship imposed by the Chinese government has become a heated discussion in recent days.
Some enthusiastic Chinese users have voluntarily offered to teach Chinese language and provide tips for navigating the Chinese internet to American users. They also advise American users to avoid touching upon or discussing any topics considered “politically sensitive.”
Starting from January 14, several American users reported cases of account bans, post censorship, and other content takedowns. Some American netizens have posted about alleged “backdoors” in the RedNote platform.
There are rumors suggesting that RedNote is actively seeking ways to review English content and develop English-to-Chinese translation tools.
It has been circulating online that RedNote has urgently recruited “English content reviewers.” According to the recruitment details, the comprehensive salary during the training period starts from 4600 yuan, with a monthly salary reaching 9000 yuan upon regularization. The benefits include insurance, meal allowances, transportation subsidies, and more. The work schedule is 8 hours a day without overtime, and individuals without relevant work experience are also encouraged to apply.
A note from an American user on RedNote underwent review, with the system displaying “Note under review, estimated time remaining 48 hours.” The user questioned, “What’s going on?” One netizen’s response: “Welcome to 1984, my friend.”
An account from a user with an IP address in Canada that uploaded content related to Winnie the Pooh and the “Tiananmen Square” incident can no longer be found, suggesting a possible ban.
Many users have pointed out that even posting selfies with brief English captions or answering questions from Chinese users about earning prospects in a specific American industry can result in post deletion or account suspension by RedNote for allegedly violating guidelines related to unclear language or potential negative experiences.
In a report by “China Digital Times” in July 2022, a leaked document from RedNote’s censorship library revealed extensive details on content moderation.
The 143-page document outlined the methods used by RedNote to monitor public opinion and included numerous case studies accumulated over several months to extract sensitive keywords. This allowed their reviewers to efficiently evaluate the posts from the platform’s 200 million active users. For example, within two months, the censorship system added 564 sensitive keywords related to the Chinese Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping.