Abstract
This study examines how digital affinity groups construct collective identity in the context of the TikTok ban in the United States, which led to a large-scale migration of American users to the Chinese social media platform REDNOTE (Little Red Book). Using Collins’ Interaction Ritual Chains theory as a framework, we conducted participant observation, content analysis, and computational textual analysis of over 1000 high-engagement posts and 9000 comments under the #TikTokRefugee hashtag on REDNOTE. Our findings show that platform algorithms facilitate virtual co-presence and help form symbolic boundaries between American and Chinese users. Through shared experiences, emotional exchanges, and multimodal interactions (such as bilingual memes and cultural symbols), users developed a sense of group belonging and constructed a new “TikTok Refugee” identity. The study reveals a dynamic process of confrontation and integration: while users express resistance to the ban and reinforce group solidarity, they also engage in cross-cultural dialogue and adapt their identities. These results highlight the dual role of platform algorithms and emotional energy in shaping digital communities, offering new insights into how online platforms mediate identity formation in transnational contexts.
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