When Red Note, the Chinese social media app also known as Xiaohongshu (” Little Red Book” ), rocketed to No. New American people were introduced to an unexpected social cross when Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was first discovered on the Apple App Store this year, according to NCB News.
Mangione’s reputation in the US has sparked furious disputes, with some branding him a working-class folk warrior and some condemning his alleged actions. But for people of Red Note, Mangione has become an implausible artist. Redaction pictures of his face being edited onto figures from the Nintendo Mario company, surrounded by golden cartoon cats holding hands, have gone popular, frequently with absurd captions like” Kind and beautiful Luigi” being added.
Americans use RedNote despite concerns about the TikTok restrictions.
Red Note’s unexpected fall comes as TikTok faces a possible US ban, prompting people to find alternatives. Many people unintentionally logged onto a Chinese app known for its image lifestyle, lifestyle content, and sporadic censorship under the” Great Firewall,” which was a reaction to US government actions.
With 300 million monthly active users, RedNote offers a blend of buying, travel, and entertainment information, but it’s the image habitat that has captivated its fresh American market. RedNote has grown to be a melting pot for cross-cultural laughter, from rabbit memes to complex fan edits.
Memes: A common speech
Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants is the subject of a striking image that uses an inflated, disturbed cry that covers everything from running out of toilet paper to unwittingly dumping chili oil on a light sweater. A repost of this meme on X ( formerly Twitter ) amassed 265, 000 likes, with the caption:” This post from Xiaohongshu literally transcended all language I’m crying”.
Chinese users have also introduced the” cat tax,” a playful initiation that requires users to upload images of their cats to Red Note. Cat memes continue to be a common internet obsession, and this cultural exchange has been humored.
Luigi Mangione: From courtrooms to cosplay
Beyond reaction pictures, Mangione is a source of fascination. Users of his set to songs like Usher’s” Hey Daddy” have produced thirsty videos and audio edits in both China and America. Some have even cosplayed as Mangione, complete with makeup tutorials and outfit recreations.
While Red Note’s content remains subject to China’s strict internet censorship, the app has unexpectedly bridged cultural divides. People are realizing that the Chinese are just as unserious as we are, as one American user on X put it.
RedNote is a foretaste of the global power of memes to bring people together, even across political unrest and language barriers.
