Dear Focus Reader,

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will not block the law targeting TikTok, rejecting its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance's First Amendment challenge. The decision effectively greenlights the ban, set to take effect Sunday, due to national security concerns. However, there have still been discussions about the potential for ByteDance to sell the app in the coming days, though the company dismissed rumors about selling to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

In the midst of the legal turmoil, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, which has fueled speculation surrounding the app's future in the U.S. Despite the Supreme Court's decision, Trump has expressed a desire to resolve the TikTok issue, possibly offering a lifeline to the platform. Additionally, ahead of the inauguration, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call today, where they discussed a myriad of topics, including balancing trade, fentanyl, and of course, TikTok.

While limited details on the conversation were released, Xi said, "We both attach great importance to interaction, hope for a good start of the China-U.S. relationship during the new U.S. presidency and are willing to secure greater progress in China-U.S. relations from a new starting point."

In the meantime, with TikTok's future uncertain, American users and influencers alike have been scrambling for alternatives, and ironically, the Chinese app Xiaohongshu, known for its lifestyle content and product recommendations, has emerged as a popular alternative.

The sudden surge in American users on Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, has offered a rare window into everyday life and practices across both countries, and sparked unprecedented cultural exchange and interaction between everyday Chinese and American citizens, with American users often referred to as "TikTok Refugees." The trend has led to interactions ranging from Chinese users seeking help with their English homework and Americans attempting to learn Mandarin, with creators increasingly including Chinese translations, to discussions comparing the cost of living between the two nations.

The rapid expansion of RedNote has raised concerns among U.S. privacy advocates and policymakers regarding data privacy and security. Critics have stated that RedNote has fewer security measures than TikTok and is closely linked to the Chinese government.

Yet, for many users, the opportunity for cultural exchange currently outweighs these fears.

Learn more on China-U.S. relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, including topics on business-to-business exchanges, the future of the bilateral relationship, and the Trump administration's potential tech policy.