TikTok's uncertain future has driven a flood of users to a fully Chinese social media app full of opportunities for genuine cultural exchange. And it's given fresh fodder for proponents of a decentralized social media ecosystem known as the fediverse. This episode was produced by Travis Larchuk, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members A logo for Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote, and a TikTok logo displayed on smartphone screens in China. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
TikTok is in a state of flux. About a week ago, it disappeared for about 14 hours, even though it didn't have to. Then it came back and sent everyone in the United States essentially a Trump ad. And then Trump enters office and signs an executive order saying he's going to kick the TikTok deadline down the road, but no one knows if that's constitutional.
Oh yay, oh yay.
In the meantime, a bunch of Americans downloaded a way more Chinese app called RedNote, and some of them started pledging allegiance to Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. No joke.
So we're waiting in line, wanting to hand our data to China.
Long live China. Long live Xi Jinping. Big up to Mao Zedong.
China is the best country in the entire world. I love China so much. First off, Mandarin is amazing. Second off, the Chinese Communist Party, yes, communist, is the best government in the entire world. Most transparent government in the entire world.
We're going to ask why on Today Explained.
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