Millions of American users joined Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, or REDnote, as TikTok's fate hung in the balance. The move has sparked heart-warming stories, as communication between people in China and the US grows on the platform. Our reporter Yu Li talks to a young American woman who was able to find her lost friend on REDnote.
Katharina took it as the last resort to find her best teenage friend, whom she lost contact with for years.
She posted a video on REDnote.
KATHARINA SCHOLZE RedNote user "So I was shocked when people found him or people even saw the video. Because when I posted it, I didn't think anyone would see it."
The post turned out going so viral that her friend Simon had been found in less than 24 hours.
The whole experience makes Katharina feel warm and excited.
KATHARINA SCHOLZE RedNote user "I never realize how welcoming and how kind everyone was, and that's something has changed. I'll never leave the app now."
Chinese social media platform REDnote saw a sudden influx of American users weeks before the due day for TikTok's ban in the US.
Users from both countries communicate with each other since like never before and many touching or fun or cute stories just like Katharina's occurred.
Katharina thinks TikTok will be able to stay in the US or it will leave hundreds of millions of Americans not knowing what to do.
KATHARINA SCHOLZE RedNote user "It really would have been a tragic thing if it got banned longer. If they decided to fully ban it, it will leave a hundred million Americans not knowing what to do."
Except those who know about REDnote, and many who had been using it have decided to stay even if TikTok comes back.
Yu Li, CGTN, Beijing.