On TikTok, that reality is amplified. Even though there is some European influence, the overwhelming focus is on American trends, American voices and American perspectives. Robinson said she craves cultural content viewed through a wider lens.

Yannan Zhang, a loyal user of RedNote in the US, interned at the company.

She believes this "refugee" phenomenon has prompted RedNote's native users to generate content around the trend that mimics it, and expands on cross-cultural exchanges.

The reaction to Western RedNote users has also generated content that playfully spreads Chinese culture, effectively opening up a new pool of content. As a result, more users are eager to produce content that revolves around TikTok "refugees", she said.

Halliez believes that in terms of cultural communication, an app focused on instant messaging between users is more valuable than one centered on sharing posts. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that platforms like RedNote can still promote awareness by showing similarities in everyday life between people in the US and China.

Finding common ground — whether through shared experiences or similar reactions to different themes — can help bridge cultural divides. While any interaction is beneficial for cross-cultural understanding and easing political tensions, meaningful change takes time, he said. Extended engagement is necessary for social media interactions to truly shift opinions, and any significant impact is likely to only be visible in the long run.

"From a psychological perspective, the idea of having contact between groups is the beginning of diffusing the tensions," said Halliez.

"So it's a step in the right direction."