As the United States grapples with the impending ban on TikTok, a growing number of young Americans have begun flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media platform, some with the singular intent to propagate content about 3D-printed firearms.
Known as Xiaohongshu in China, RedNote is traditionally used for lifestyle content, but it has recently become a stage for niche American users advocating for gun rights and sharing instructions on manufacturing “ghost guns”—untraceable firearms built using 3D printers.
Prominent among this niche wave of users is an individual operating under the alias “YZY Prints,” who has used the platform to promote 3D-printed gun content. First reported by the Daily Dot, YZY has uploaded videos demonstrating the creation of plastic firearms, alongside links to platforms like “The Gatalog,” a repository of blueprints for these weapons. In one RedNote post, YZY declared, “Learn to 3D print guns like an American.” YZY and other enthusiasts have framed their activities as a form of advocacy for universal gun rights.
我在家做的
I made this at home让美国人教你
Let the American teach you3D 打印，美式风格
3D Printing, America Style pic.twitter.com/Pl21Mjlspy— yzy (@yzy_is_who) January 17, 2025
The content has sparked a mix of reactions on the platform. Some Chinese users responded with the slang term “666,” which means “awesome” or “cool,” while others expressed concern about potential repercussions from Chinese authorities. One Chinese user commented, “It is best not to show too much 3D2A [3D-printed firearm content] on this platform, otherwise the authorities may separate us into Chinese and foreign nations.”
While 3D-printed guns exist in a legal gray area in the U.S., China enforces strict bans on private firearm ownership. Chinese law only permits firearms for military, police, and certain approved security personnel.
Us Americans have a moral obligation to download RedNote and show the Chinese how to build unserialized ghost guns pic.twitter.com/liuF1wPvtv
— yzy (@yzy_is_who) January 14, 2025
RedNote, which has traditionally maintained stringent content moderation policies, appears unprepared for the influx of English-language firearm-related content. Reuters reports that the platform is scrambling to develop tools for moderating such content and enhancing English-Chinese translations. While some of YZY’s videos were flagged and removed, they were reinstated after appeals—an indication of gaps in RedNote’s enforcement mechanisms.
The app’s moderation policies have been described as heavy-handed in some cases. Forbes recently characterized RedNote as “a tightly controlled platform that exports censorship,” yet it remains unclear how the company will adapt to this new wave of content, with some users already reporting that they’ve been banned for showing things like “tiny bit of cleavage,” or discussing LGBTQ rights.
