ShanghaiPulse: Why did TikTok users turn to another Chinese app?

After TikTok faced bans and restrictions in multiple countries, many users quickly migrated to another Chinese social app. But why did they choose a platform from the same country rather than Western alternatives?

In this exclusive interview, Professor Huang Jing from Shanghai International Studies University argues that the ban itself raises constitutional concerns. He notes that many users who moved to Xiaohongshu referred to themselves as “TikTok refugees,” signaling a sense of being unjustly displaced and using their platform switch as an act of defiance. Beyond individual choices, he sees this as part of a broader cultural phenomenon—one that reflects China’s growing appeal as a stable, prosperous, and dynamic online space. In an increasingly fragmented digital landscape, what does this shift mean for the global social media ecosystem?

Watch the full interview to find out.