The phenomenon of American users using the Chinese app “Little Red Book” (known internationally as “Red Note”) has created an opportunity for direct communication between ordinary people in the U.S. and China. While some Indian media personalities have called for the app to be banned as soon as possible, many American users on the platform have been engaging in detailed comparisons with Chinese users about differences in income, daily expenses, healthcare, education, and infrastructure between the two countries.
In these comparisons, American users have discovered that prices in China are lower, especially for daily necessities like food and clothing. They have also been impressed by the cleanliness and low fares of public transportation in Chinese cities, such as subways and buses. China’s nine-year compulsory education and low university tuition fees are surprising to Americans, as most people in the U.S. need to take out loans to attend college. Additionally, China’s healthcare insurance is affordable and medical services are efficient, in contrast to the U.S. where medical costs are extremely high. This exchange also highlights some cultural commonalities between the two peoples, such as a shared interest in games like “League of Legends” and “World of Warcraft.” American celebrities and culture are popular in China, while Americans also enjoy Chinese martial arts dramas. Some criticism suggests that the Indian media’s focus on this trend is filled with malice and jealousy, and instead of being envious of the popularity of Chinese apps, India should work on developing its own IT technology to create applications that are popular with Americans.