How ordinary people are quietly changing relations between countries
The Brecken Neumann family poses with their Chinese Internet friend Rong Rong and her family at Shanghai Disneyland.
When American father Brecken Neumann traveled to Shanghai this month to meet his Chinese Internet friends, the sight of toddlers swapping snacks wasn't just a cute moment but a glimpse of a quiet revolution.
From viral "Say Hi" videos to family meetups arranged through social media platform Xiaohongshu (Red Note, China's lifestyle-sharing platform with 300 million monthly active users), ordinary people are reshaping relations between countries through genuine connections.
In response to the looming United States TikTok ban in January, many American users have migrated to China's Xiaohongshu, leading to a surge in downloads.
Algorithms, once seen as tools of division, have sparked cross-cultural curiosity. Xiaohongshu's personalized feed recommends Chinese breakfast videos to Utah moms and Colorado ski Vlogs to Guangzhou office workers. Virtual exchanges lead to real-world friendships.
Neumann, following the trend on Xiaohongshu, posted a photo of himself and his daughter greeting Chinese netizens. Soon, his comments section was flooded with "hi" messages from people of all backgrounds, including a family photo of Rongrong and her family from Shanghai.
The side-by-side comparison of these two images quickly went viral on platforms like X, with a "Isn't this how the world should be?" remark by a netizen, garnering nearly 400,000 likes. Inspired by the warmth and kindness of Chinese netizens, the Neumanns embarked on their journey to China.
The Neumann family isn't alone. Foreign visitors, inspired by online conversations, are flocking to China.
International creators are now sharing their own travel experiences in China on Xiaohongshu, aka the Red Note.
In 2024, over 20 million inbound trips were made under China's visa-free policies, a 112.3 percent year-on-year increase.
American basketball fan Jiggly Boy, or "Wolf Uncle," praised Shanghai's cleanliness and modern skyline, calling it "one of the most beautiful cities in the world."
Italian traveler Federico, retracing his mother's visit from 30 years ago, marveled at Shanghai's growth and cultural scene, surprised by the authenticity of Italian pizza.
British streamer "itsjavachip" visited Chongqing after gaining fame from "Black Myth: Wukong." This Chinese video game sold 10 million copies globally in three days.
Their visits have sparked global praise, with social media users saying, "This is what the world should be like."
American YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr, known as IShowSpeed, captures a moment with a newlywed couple at Shanghai's iconic Bund during his visit.
While government diplomacy can be fragile, citizen-led connections are often more resilient. Even as political tensions rise, people find ways to collaborate. Music, food and laughter connect people in ways that official statements rarely can.
American YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr, known as IShowSpeed, recently conducted a series of livestreams during his inaugural visit to China.
His six-hour broadcast in Shanghai attracted over 6.4 million views and thousands of comments. With 37 million YouTube subscribers, IShowSpeed is recognized for his energetic and expressive on-screen presence.
During his tour, he explored cities like Shanghai and Beijing, participated in cultural activities such as lion dances, sampled local cuisines and experienced riding shared bicycles and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
His real-time, high-definition 2K livestreams, even aboard China's 350 km/h high-speed trains without connectivity issues, impressed many international viewers.
These unfiltered broadcasts provided audiences worldwide with a firsthand look at modern China, challenging longstanding stereotypes and offering a fresh perspective on the country's development and culture.
Viewers expressed surprise at China's modernity and the warmth of its people, contrasting sharply with previous perceptions of the nation as "backward" or "closed."
Comments from international viewers included sentiments like, "Respect the Chinese people and China. Hope we can get along and put aside political differences."
Darren Jason Watkins Jr poses with skyscrapers of Shanghai's Lujiazui financial hub.
Such kind of people-to-people diplomacy mirrors what biologist Lynn Margulis called "symbiotic evolution" – distinct entities thriving through cooperation.
When people meet, talk and understand each other's lives, they create bonds that withstand the shocks of political uncertainty. Even in tense times, empathy and curiosity remain powerful forces for mutual understanding.
Gen Z is leading the change. American and Chinese gamers form teams in "Minecraft," collaborating on elaborate virtual worlds like Minecraft. On Xiaohongshu, they exchange memes, learning each other's humor.
Neuroscience studies suggest that early exposure to diverse cultures enhances empathy and adaptability. Young people in this interconnected era are more tolerant and open-minded.
The movement is reminiscent of the 1971 "ping-pong diplomacy" that paved the way for normalized China-US relations. Back then, a simple table tennis match symbolized hope.
Today, a dance challenge on social media sparks laughter and connection across continents.
Instead of grand summits, real progress might come from Midwestern moms sharing cookie recipes with their Chinese friends, grandparents exchanging herbal remedy tips online, or families comparing grocery prices and salaries across the Pacific.
Diplomats may negotiate treaties, but the true architects of peace might just be snack-sharing toddlers and meme-posting teens.
After all, it's difficult to fear someone who just taught you how to make their grandmother's soup and gave it five stars.
