A few weeks ago, my language exchange partner, Lucy Chan, introduced me to 小红书 (Xiǎo Hóng Shū), literally Little Red Book  also known as "RedNote" (but if you expect me to call it that, you might as well get comfy, because I’ll keep saying 小红书—I mean, I’m learning Chinese for a reason 😎). Since I love exploring Chinese apps, I gave it a try, but—surprise, surprise—everything was in Chinese. (Actually, not a surprise at all. So far, only 微信 (Wēixìn) “WeChat” has had a somewhat foreigner-friendly interface).

So far, nothing out of the ordinary. But suddenly, thanks to the "TikTok refugee" phenomenon (aka people desperately looking for a new app to waste hours of their lives on), in just two days, 小红书 added an English interface. 2 days! Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, some apps take months just to fix a single bug.

Coincidentally, just the day before, I was talking to another language partner (你好吴输) about Chinese work culture, and well… this pretty much sums it up. But what can we actually learn from all of this?

• 🚀 Reaction speed that puts Western tech to shame – 小红书 saw the flood of English-speaking users and, boom, two days later, English interface. Meanwhile, some apps have been “working on it” for years and still can’t make their login button function properly.
• 🌏 Globalization, but make it China-style – This is no accident. More and more Chinese tech companies are expanding beyond their home market, and this is just another proof that they’re absolutely nailing it. At this rate, in a few years, we won’t be asking if an app is Chinese but rather which one isn’t! 
• 👥 User-centric (or at least trying not to scare them away) – Adding an English interface is not just a smart move; it’s a clear message that 小红书 values user experience and actually wants new users to stick around instead of running away in terror at the sight of thousands of Chinese characters.
• 🤝 Cultural and economic exchange (plus some hilarious moments) – The wave of TikTok migrants and 小红书’s fast response just highlight how interconnected China and the rest of the world are. If you don’t believe me, just watch the welcome videos in English and Spanish—I’ve never felt so “welcome” in a virtual space in my life. I was half expecting them to send me tea and cookies.
• 🎯 Perfect timing (or how to take advantage of TikTok’s drama for success) – Just as 小红书’s visibility skyrocketed thanks to TikTok’s ban, boom! English interface. Not only did they ride the wave of interest, but they also secured long-term growth in international markets. A move more calculated than that one friend who only texts you when they need something.

This whole situation is a reminder that the digital ecosystem is as fluid as the coffee we need to survive work. Users jump from platform to platform in days, and companies that want to stay relevant need to move just as fast.

As someone who uses   Bilibili, QQmusic y Tencent Docs,

I see huge potential if these platforms add English or Spanish interfaces. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see Spotify and YouTube taking notes.

Oh, and one last thought—Chinese companies are famous for their '996' work culture: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Controversial? Yes. Brutal? Absolutely. But if this proves something, it’s that this intense work ethic lets them innovate and leave their competition eating dust in hyper-dynamic markets.