As the specter of the US bill mandating TikTok's sale or ban looms large, apprehension about TikTok's future intensifies.

With over 140 million users in the US, TikTok's departure has become a golden opportunity for competitors like Facebook and Twitter to attract these users.

However, unexpectedly, an increasing number of American TikTok users are flocking to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app, rather than embracing American alternatives like Facebook and Twitter.

Embarrassingly for the US, these users are flocking to Xiaohongshu, dubbing themselves 'TikTok refugees'.

This is precisely what the US fears. To comprehend why, let's delve into the rationale behind the US's targeting and attempted seizure of TikTok.

For decades, the US has dominated global media channels, particularly mainstream Western internet platforms, using them to propagate its narrative and image.

If you observe mainstream American or even Western media, you'll notice that these US-controlled social media platforms glorify all things American while criticizing China.

TikTok, as a Chinese platform, showcases China's beauty and the depth of Chinese culture, inspiring admiration and longing among many young Americans.

Through TikTok, many Americans have come to understand, appreciate, and yearn for China—a development that the US finds intolerable.

Therefore, the US aims to seize TikTok, transform it into a media channel under its control, and use it to serve its interests. If seizure is impossible, it seeks to ban TikTok to prevent young Americans from recognizing China's charm. This is the crux of the matter.

TikTok's preference for ban over sale to the US has surpassed the US's expectations.

More surprisingly, instead of turning to other American apps, American youth are embracing Chinese apps like Xiaohongshu, eager to learn about and understand China, gaining authentic exposure to the world.

This is what the US fears most—it cannot possibly ban both TikTok and Xiaohongshu.

Furthermore, even if Xiaohongshu is banned, other Chinese apps like Xiaolvshu, Xiaolanshu, Xiaozishu, and more will emerge. This signifies that global internet channels are no longer under US control. The US can no longer manipulate these apps to brainwash people. This is the most critical and feared aspect for the US.