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Notably absent from the ban are certain major non-English social platforms, such as KakaoTalk, which is particularly popular among Korean users, and Line, a widely-used messaging service in Japan and Taiwan.
On RedNote, a call has been made for users under the age of 16 to converge on the platform, referring to them as “refugees.”
A message on social media reads, “under 16 Australian refugees incoming !!!” This post includes captions in both Chinese and English.
A user on RedNote, identifying as an ‘ABC’ (Australian-born Chinese), shared a post stating “under 16 Australian refugees incoming,” which quickly gathered hundreds of engagements.
In response, the original poster commented, “They wouldn’t have any reason to ban it.”
Fifteen-year-old Sophie Shan said that, despite Australia’s under-16 social media ban, she can still access RedNote and Douyin. Source: Supplied
Wenjia Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in digital culture at the University of Sydney, said the government’s social media ban places bilingual teens and monolingual English-speaking users into different digital realms.
“That doesn’t mean Chinese-language platforms are unimportant, nor does it mean the regulatory framework is inherently unequal. But for now, platforms used by minority communities or in other languages have not been included in the regulatory framework.”
Wenjia Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in digital culture at the University of Sydney, believes young Australians may turn to RedNote when other social media apps are inaccessible. Source: Supplied
Tang said RedNote could become an alternative option for under-16s who are unable to access the social media platforms they are familiar with.
“I think its youthful appeal, localisation and real-time content updates align well with the profiles and usage habits of teenage users,” Tang said.
Bilingual teens more likely to migrate
However, those who already have an interest in the platform or come from Chinese-language backgrounds are more likely to turn to RedNote or spend more time using it when previously available options are unavailable, Tang said.
“I think the other large reason is the fact that almost none of my friends are on it. And trying to get them on it with me would be a pain. So I really just cannot be bothered.”
Fourteen-year-old Ethan Guo said switching to apps like RedNote is unappealing due to language barriers. Source: Supplied
Tang said the “social” aspect of social media is crucial — platforms feel safer and more welcoming when users are surrounded by familiar people.
“It shouldn’t be assumed that just because RedNote is not currently regulated, it will always be a safe or transferable space. If a large-scale migration were to occur, it could become the next target of policy intervention,” she said.
