9th December 2025 – (Taipei) Taiwan’s decision to block access to the mainland Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu for one year on alleged fraud grounds has prompted a surge in downloads on the island and sharp criticism that the move could alienate younger voters from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Local media report that Xiaohongshu has more than three million users in Taiwan. Authorities announced the ban last Thursday, citing over 1,700 fraud cases linked to the platform this year. The justification has been widely questioned, with critics arguing enforcement is inconsistent.
Commentator Hsieh Chih-chuan said the measure was “laughable”, noting that daily losses to fraud in Taiwan are estimated at NT$400 million and that around 70% of those losses are tied to Facebook. “If Facebook accounts for NT$280 million a day in fraud, why target Xiaohongshu on that basis and not tackle the larger problem?” he asked. Data cited in local coverage indicate that Facebook-related scams in Taiwan exceeded 50,000 cases over the past 30 days.
Mainland media reported that, following the announcement, many older users who previously knew little about Xiaohongshu began downloading the app, driving a spike in installations and pushing it to the top of the social networking download rankings in Taiwan. Hsieh argued the platform’s content has enabled more Taiwanese to gain exposure to the mainland’s development, which he claimed the DPP fears.
Analysts note that Xiaohongshu’s Taiwan user base skews towards 15- to 35-year-olds — a key demographic for the DPP. Some commentators predict the ban could cost the party support among younger voters.
