Rednote Goes Premium: Is the Era of Free "Seeding" Over?

Rednote (Xiaohongshu), the cornerstone of Chinese social media for lifestyle and commerce, is testing a controversial new feature: "Paid Notes." This shift moves the platform beyond traditional ad revenue, allowing creators to charge users directly for content. From high-res image downloads to serialized novels, Rednote is aggressively expanding its boundaries. This article analyzes what this "paywall" experiment means for the platform's ecosystem, its competition with giants like Douyin and Zhihu, and the strategic implications for global brands navigating the complex landscape of Chinese marketing.