TikTok's uncertain future has driven a flood of users to a fully Chinese social media app full of opportunities for genuine cultural exchange. And it's given fresh fodder for proponents of a decentralized social media ecosystem known as the fediverse.

This episode was produced by Travis Larchuk, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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A logo for Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote, and a TikTok logo displayed on smartphone screens in China. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images.

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