A report in the Wall Street Journal pointed out that young Americans are tired of false praise and blatant humiliation on Western social media such as Instagram, and want honest and friendly feedback, so more and more people are turning to Chinese netizens on Xiaohongshu to "listen to persuasion".
The report shows that young Americans are unhappy with the Western social media environment and are seeking more authentic and friendly feedback on other platforms. Xiaohongshu's popularity in China may be due to its community atmosphere and the way users interact with each other is different from Western social media.
In some cases, there may be too much false praise or blatant humiliation on Western social media, which can make people feel tired and disappointed. Conversely, Chinese netizens may be more inclined to offer honest and friendly advice on Xiaohongshu, a way of interacting that may be more in line with some people's needs.
There are several reasons why young Americans are tired of fake praise and blatant shaming on Instagram:
- Lack of authenticity: Content on Instagram is often carefully curated and edited to present an idealized image of life. This false perfection can be stressful and inauthentic for young people to make an authentic connection with.
- Social comparison pressure: On Instagram, people are prone to social comparisons, and seeing someone else's wonderful life and perfect image can lead to self-doubt and anxiety.
- Negative effects of blatant shaming: Blatantly shaming and malicious comments are happening on social media, which can cause psychological harm and social stress for young people.
- Desire for authentic interactions: Young people may be eager to have more authentic, honest and meaningful interactions with others than just superficial praise or criticism.
- The need for diverse perspectives: They may want to hear diverse voices and authentic feedback that fosters personal growth and self-development.
These factors can lead to dissatisfaction among young Americans with Western social media such as Instagram and prompt them to look for other platforms, such as Xiaohongshu, for more authentic and friendly interactions. However, it is important to note that each social platform has its own characteristics and problems, and individuals will also have different uses and feelings about social media.
The phenomenon of "dominating the charts" indicates that these apps have a high level of popularity and downloads in the market. Byte-based TikTok and Capcut, as well as e-commerce apps Temu and Shein, have been able to consistently top 10 download charts, likely because they cater to specific needs and interests of users.
For young Americans, joining Xiaohongshu may be to get the latest beauty and fashion trends and get specific advice. The platform can provide a variety of reference images, celebrity or YouTuber imitation suggestions, and even help users simulate the effect of changing the look through graphics. This satisfies the needs of young people for personalization and fashion exploration.