this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2025
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Summary

Many Americans joining China’s social media platform RedNote are encountering strict censorship uncommon in Western platforms.

One non-binary user had a post asking if the platform welcomed gay people removed within hours.

Posts on LGBTQ+ topics, fitness photos, and sensitive cultural content have been censored, frustrating users unfamiliar with China's moderation rules.

RedNote is hiring English-language moderators to handle the influx. While some users enjoy cultural exchange, others criticize restrictions.

Analysts see RedNote’s growth among US users as a soft power win for China.

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[–] coolfission@lemm.ee 6 points 1 hour ago

This is why I’m against using Rednote myself. Just try searching tiananmen square in Rednote and you won’t get any results.

[–] Artyom@lemm.ee 2 points 3 hours ago

It just went back online

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 36 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Anyone who has been using Xitter over the last couple of years has already experienced Chinese style censorship.

[–] avattar@lemmy.sdf.org 21 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Chinese style censorship is more consistent, though. No one is making up rules on the fly.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 9 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

This is consistent. Anything that makes the racists, fascists, incels, tech bros, and billionaires uncomfortable is blocked.

[–] avattar@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

What makes them uncomfortable could change tomorrow.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Did mentions of Tiananmen Square make China uncomfortable before 1989 or did that change? Did mentions of Winnie the Pooh make China uncomfortable before 2017 or did that change?

I'm not sure what point you were trying to make.

[–] dvoraqs@lemmy.world 0 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

That is a comparatively slow rate of change, don't you think so?

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 0 points 2 hours ago

That was only two representative examples. Do you actually want me to make an exhaustive list of all of the changes that have happened over time to the Chinese censorship regime?

[–] Shacktastic@lemy.lol 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

China censors all literature, film, music, and internet discourse employing advanced technologies and multiple tens of thousands of people while also running the world's largest prison for journalist. VPNs are blocked. Apps like Signal are blocked. Online gaming for minors is limited to 3 hours per day on weekends and holidays only. People get harassed by police for what they post online. Many go to jail for criticizing the government, spreading pornography or health related sexual content (including anything LGBT), supporting Taiwanese independence, or casting doubt on Chinese folk legends. Then, in addition to that (which I have not even begun to do justice to), all media companies run their own internal censorship regimes so as not to get in trouble with the authorities. And this rolls downhill: you the individual self-censor to not get in trouble with your boss or worse.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago

You don't think that's exactly where the US is heading?

[–] Sgt_choke_n_stroke@lemmy.world 12 points 10 hours ago

There's a lot of gay people on the app this is strait up lies. Holy shit my eyes are open to this bullshit

[–] pyre@lemmy.world 23 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

this is disgusting. personally I prefer lgbtq related posts be censored by companies like Facebook and Twitter instead.

cisgender is hate speech, y'all

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[–] Objection@lemmy.ml 15 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

You can just go on the app and you'll see it for yourself, they don't bite.

  • There's lots of posts of people asking opinions about LGBT stuff and the platform has a large lesbian community.

  • The app is originally more popular with women and the norm is to assume anonymous users are female, "sis" is considered complementary and a sign of acceptance.

  • My Hero Academia is considered cancelled because the manga included a reference to Unit 731, which did some real Nazi shit in WWII.

  • Chinese politics and history post-revolution is a sensitive topic and generally avoided. If you're planning to go there so you can tell them about Tienanmen Square and how their government is evil, don't bother lol.

  • There are a few Western fascists trying to get on there, probably in hopes that the moderators won't recognize their dogwhistles (things like 1488, groyper, etc). They banned Nick Fuentes before he could post anything because they recognized the name, and I've seen posts circulating warning about their keywords. Hopefully the moderators they're hiring will help nip it in the bud.

  • Generally, like, remember that you're a guest and your experience will probably be fine. I've been surprised at both sides being respectful, and people are generally happy to have us. I'm sure there's parts of the Chinese internet that are much less pleasant but RedBook seems like a pretty amiable cultural crossing point. It's a unique opportunity to see another perspective without just going out on your own and there's no telling how long it'll last.

I am taking lots of notes from all the Chinese spies so that I can become a better Chinese spy for everyone here on Lemmy 🤗

[–] spicehoarder@lemm.ee 13 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

From my experience, it's a place for lighthearted fun.

I hated using Instagram and Facebook because of the toxic right-wingers always starting shit.

So imagine my surprise when these right-wing instigators actually get banned when I report them on RedNote.

Get wrecked idiots, finally a social app with an actual code of conduct.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

This is the irony of it all. People are encountering Chinese censorship and realizing they prefer it over American censorship. XD

[–] alekwithak@lemmy.world 2 points 8 minutes ago

Ridiculous. I've seen comments removed from tiktok for using the word dumb, but some right wing Russian bot comes along and says the most evil, vile shit you've ever seen and you report it and the moderators always just happen to not find anything wrong with it.

[–] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 5 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Mainland Taiwan per usual I see.

I wonder what happens if you post winnie the poo shit.

[–] Sgt_choke_n_stroke@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago (5 children)

They have a lot of pooh posts mainly from the ride at Disney there.

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