For a bit I thought my new prescription of lexapro was going to carry me through this year but the week of feeling joyful has leveled out and I am just as grumpy and annoyed as before. Just less sad. I want the joy part, though.
So because it's behind a strong paywall I was only able to scrape the page source get the story.
The story reveals an ironic turn of events in early 2025 regarding social media platforms and US-China tech relations:
A surge of American users have begun flocking to Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote), a Chinese social media app, in protest of potential TikTok restrictions in the US. They're doing this in the name of "free speech" - which is ironic given China's strict content controls.
Key statistics:
In early 2025, 22% of Xiaohongshu's total app downloads came from the US (up from just 2% in the same period in 2024)
Downloads increased more than 20 times in a single week in January 2025
This has created several challenges for Xiaohongshu:
The platform was caught off guard and initially had no capacity for censoring English content
Existing Chinese users (70% female, half born after 1995) are complaining about the flood of foreign posts
The company had to modify its algorithms to show less English content to Chinese users
The situation has also created some unique opportunities:
Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee and Li Auto are using the platform to reach American audiences
It may serve as an unofficial tourism campaign for China
The platform has become a rare bridge for US-China civilian exchange, as it's one of the few Chinese apps that allows foreign users to register without strict ID verification
However, there are concerns about sustainability:
Xiaohongshu employs over 30% of its 15,000 workers as content censors
The platform must balance keeping Chinese regulators happy while accommodating new foreign users
The language barrier and different user expectations pose long-term challenges
The situation highlights the complex dynamics of US-China tech relations and the unintended consequences of attempts to restrict social media platforms.
For a bit I thought my new prescription of lexapro was going to carry me through this year but the week of feeling joyful has leveled out and I am just as grumpy and annoyed as before. Just less sad. I want the joy part, though.