I believe they use a different backend/storage. Different content shows up depending if you are searching from Tiktok or Douyin. Perhaps someone from Bytedance is curating select content from Tiktok for Douyin.
Either way, if I put a video on Tiktok it does not mean Chinese users on Douyin will see it.
Don’t forget China blocks tiktok too.
IIRC China tried to stir up its internet users about the US blocking Tiktok and it fell flat because it’s blocked for them too.
China doesn’t block Douyin
I believe they use a different backend/storage. Different content shows up depending if you are searching from Tiktok or Douyin. Perhaps someone from Bytedance is curating select content from Tiktok for Douyin.
Either way, if I put a video on Tiktok it does not mean Chinese users on Douyin will see it.
https://chinasocialmedia.net/tiktok-and-douyin-are-not-the-same/