Let me put you on to something that’s got the internet buzzing: Red Note. What's Red Note you ask? It’s the new app everyone’s talking about. This app has gained massive traction, especially in the wake of the impending TikTok ban in the U.S. When news broke that TikTok would no longer be accessible in the U.S. If you haven’t heard, the government is coming for TikTok (again), and this time, the ban is supposed to go down on January 19, 2025. American users, unwilling to lose their online communities, made a smooth migration to Red Note, a Chinese app with a similar interface and functionality. Soon, users from Canada, the UK, and Europe followed, creating a global wave of digital migration.
Why Are People Flocking to Red Note? What's the hype?
In a world where physical borders often divide us, social media has become a virtual home, a space where we feel seen, heard, and understood. TikTok has been the place where people found their online communities, shared their creativity, and, let’s be honest, got their daily dose of chaos and laughs. So when the U.S. government decided to shut it down, people weren’t about to take the L. Red Note’s rise (Number 1 in the App Store! Wild!!) highlights a critical truth: people will go to great lengths to preserve their sense of community. But this desire to belong isn’t just about social media. It’s about us - our need for connection, our resilience, and the ways we create community when the spaces we’ve built are threatened.
Here’s the wild part: Red Note isn’t even in English. The app’s terms and conditions are fully in Chinese, but people are out here hitting “accept” without even knowing what they're agreeing to, LOL. That’s how deep the need to stay connected goes. Americans even started calling themselves “TikTok refugees,” learning Mandarin phrases, helping Chinese students with their English homework, and creating a whole new vibe on this app. It’s low-key hilarious, but also kinda beautiful when you think about it.
The Universal Need to Belong
Let’s get real for a second: wanting to belong isn’t just about hopping on the latest app. It’s something we all feel, no matter who we are or where we come from. Belonging isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a basic human need. Psychologists have found that social connection is as essential as food, water, and shelter. When we feel like we’re part of a community, we experience lower stress levels, improved mental health, and even better physical health. It’s why we create families, friend groups, and even these little online communities.
And for Black folks, especially Black women? This need hits even harder. In a world where we’re often overlooked, judged, or undervalued, finding spaces where we can be fully ourselves is everything. Studies show that Black communities are among the most active on social media. 69% of Black adults use at least one social media site, and 72% of Black adults in the U.S. use social media, with women leading the charge in creating and engaging with content. Not just for entertainment but to find representation and create spaces where we feel seen and valued. Whether it’s a digital platform, a sister circle, or a professional network, those spaces remind us that we matter, that we’re not alone, and that our stories are worth sharing.
Platforms like TikTok (and now Red Note) are more than just apps. They’re spaces where we can create our own narratives, celebrate our culture, and uplift each other. And when those spaces are threatened, we’ll find a way to rebuild, reimagine, and reclaim what’s ours.
Black folks bringing the vibes to Red Note just like Chris Tucker in this scene, lol.
Resilience is in Our DNA
In her book The Social Life of DNA, Alondra Nelson highlights how Black Americans use tools like DNA ancestry services to reconnect with lost histories and build a sense of belonging. Similarly, social media platforms often serve as virtual “villages” for Black millennials, providing spaces to share experiences, celebrate culture, and foster resilience.
The way people jumped to Red Note when TikTok’s future looked shaky? That’s resilience. And if you think about it, that’s something our community has always had. Whether it’s navigating immigration, forging new paths in foreign lands, or thriving despite systemic barriers, the Black community has always found ways to create, innovate, and belong.
As a first-gen African in the diaspora, I’ve seen this resilience firsthand. My parents left everything they knew to build a life in Europe, and later, I made my own journey to Canada. The strength it takes to start over—to find community, learn new systems, and still hold on to your identity—is something we’ve mastered. We adapt. We thrive. And we find or create spaces where we can be our whole selves.
It’s Okay to Want to Belong
Listen, if you’ve ever felt a little “extra” for wanting to fit in or find your people, let me stop you right there. Wanting to belong doesn’t make you needy—it makes you human.
The next time you feel like you’re searching for your tribe, whether it’s online or in real life, remember this: you deserve to belong. You deserve spaces that make you feel seen, valued, and appreciated. And it’s okay to take up space, to ask for connection, and to seek out the kind of community that feeds your soul.
So, What’s Your Next Move?
Let’s use this moment as a reminder to prioritize spaces where we feel seen, valued, and connected. Whether you’re downloading Red Note, joining a new local church, reaching out to that friend you’ve been meaning to check on, or maybe it’s just embracing the idea that you deserve connection, period. Here’s your challenge: Take the first step today. The world is better when we show up for each other.
Now go find your people and build your tribe. You’ve got this.