this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2025
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I keep getting Xiaohongshu posts on my feed of American users apologizing for “colonizing” the app and declaring their intent to leave. It’s usually full of Chinese users insisting that it’s not the case. My gut reaction is that it doesn’t make sense and I’ll explain why in the comments.

But it’s possible that I’m just missing something or that as an English speaker my feed inherently skews foreigners-friendly. So I wanted to ask. Why do US users think they’re colonizing Xiaohongshu? Are Chinese users genuinely insistent that they’re not? And who is correct?

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[–] 9to5@hexbear.net 22 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I dont have much to add, but I think theres value in Westerners interacting with people their government labels as enemies. It helps humanize them, which in turn makes it harder for the government to justify violence against them later on.

Besides that as a xenophile, I believe respectful cultural exchange is a healthy thing for individuals. It broadens your horizons and gives you a better understanding of the world.