The US government has often warned that Chinese apps and online activities pose security risks to Americans. However, there is one area where Americans have developed a surprising affection for China: memes. Although industrial-grade glycine isn’t a subject you’d expect to captivate anyone since mid-2024, it has become the focus of an unexpected trend. The Chinese company Donghua Jinlong, a manufacturer of this amino acid, unexpectedly became the star of a viral sensation on TikTok. American platform users transformed content from the company into memes, and the company played along with the trend, sparking a viral conversation about glycine.
The Growing US Obsession with Chinese Content
Recently there has been another surprising development: as a potential ban on TikTok loomed due to national security concerns, many Americans rushed to sign up for another Chinese social media app, RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu, or Little Red Book). In the brief period before a law banning TikTok could be enforced (a law that President Donald Trump later delayed for 75 days), three million Americans joined Xiaohongshu. They joined a massive user base of around 300 million active users in China, forming an unexpected connection between American and Chinese internet communities. These users swapped memes and jokes and even helped each other with homework.
This shift in behavior occurs at a time when US-China relations are particularly tense. Concerns over national security and fears of an impending trade war have created friction between the two nations. Yet, despite these political tensions, social media platforms are offering a space where American and Chinese users can break through these barriers, sharing content and laughing. But what’s behind this growing obsession with Chinese memes? Could these shared digital moments offer a bridge between two countries often divided by their political leaders?
The fascination with Chinese memes in the US is not entirely new but it exploded in 2024. One standout moment was when the company Donghua Jinlong became an unexpected internet sensation. The company’s advertising video for industrial glycine- a product used in various foods- went viral on TikTok with users finding humor in its overly cheerful presentation of such a niche product. American meme makers transformed the content into a phenomenon with creators pretending to be influencers promoting a product that isn’t even sold to individual consumers. This bizarre and unexpected turn of events even caught the attention of major media outlets like “The Washington Post” and “The New Yorker”.
Constitutional Change in Demand
Donghua Jinlong, aware of its new popularity, played along by sending merchandise to meme creators, further fueling the trend. The meme culture surrounding the glycine manufacturer spread beyond TikTok with fans creating content poking fun at influencer culture and brand advertising. This odd fascination with a Chinese industrial product may seem strange but it also highlights an intriguing element of political subtext. At the time, the US was embroiled in an election cycle and candidate Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese businesses like Donghua Jinlong.
As meme creator Diana R, the woman behind the popular meme account “citiesbydiana”, explained, “China is the country we’re not supposed to like. The government has told us to hate them. But I’m not afraid of them. It’s a political statement. They’re just like us and we know they’re just like us. Different cultures, different languages but at the end of the day, we’re all laughing at funny stuff.” This statement shows how humor and memes can transcend geopolitical tensions.
The trend also expanded to the RedNote platform especially as TikTok’s fate hung in the balance. American and Chinese users began to interact in surprising ways, joking about the role their governments played in keeping them apart. Jianqing Chen, a researcher at Washington University, suggests that these personal interactions through social media offer a chance to move past political narratives and connect over shared human experiences.
How Chinese Internet Culture Goes Global
There have been countless examples of American and Chinese netizens bonding over mundane topics. For example, users have shared conversations about healthcare costs, homework, and even viral Chinese-language songs making their way to the English-speaking side of TikTok. Despite the “Great Firewall” in China, which limits access to certain parts of the internet, platforms like RedNote are becoming gateways for Americans to explore Chinese internet culture. Chen points out that these platforms create invisible barriers but also provide a space for global exchange.
RedNote is one of the few major Chinese platforms accessible outside of China and has become a key way for Americans to engage with Chinese culture. One American who goes by the name Rick and runs the TikTok account “Prognoz Pogodi” shared his experience. He was drawn to RedNote after a friend’s recommendation and was immediately impressed by the creativity of Chinese users. He started posting videos that translated content from RedNote, particularly focusing on educational or food-related content and using literal translations of Chinese idioms. To his surprise, his posts took off and gained millions of views. Some of his videos, including ones featuring “Fiveish,” a talking five-dollar bill that humorously reads translations of RedNote posts, have gone viral and inspired imitators on other platforms.
Rick, along with others, has learned that memes are a powerful art form. They offer a unique perspective on the world, allowing viewers to see life through the lens of someone from another culture. The success of these Chinese memes in America shows that curiosity and shared humor are key forces in shaping internet culture. Whether scrolling through TikTok, browsing Instagram, or engaging on RedNote, people across the globe are finding ways to connect, laugh, and learn from each other, despite the political and technological barriers that may separate them.
