So, here’s the scoop: with the TikTok ban just around the corner, American users are making a dash for RedNote (Xiaohongshu). A Chinese app, which Americans are viewing as a hidden gem, is becoming the new hot spot for TikTok fans trying to dodge the ban.
TikTok users are responding to the possible ban by simply moving over to the RedNote app.
The ban is set to kick in on January 19, 2025, because of concerns about national security and data privacy. Basically, lawmakers are worried that the Chinese government might get access to users’ data through TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance. So, the company was told to either sell TikTok or face a total ban in the U.S.
Enter RedNote, a social media platform that’s like a mashup of Pinterest and Instagram, with a focus on short videos and photo-sharing. One big difference? RedNote doesn’t autoplay videos, so users have more control over what they watch. As TikTok users jump ship, hashtags like #TikTokRefugee and #TikTok have started popping up all over RedNote.
Switching platforms hasn’t been a piece of cake, though. Many American users are figuring out how to navigate an app primarily designed for Mandarin speakers. But the sense of community has been a silver lining. RedNote users are creating groups and live chats to help each other get used to the new environment. One popular live chat, the “TikTok Refugee Club,” has over 100,000 participants swapping tips and advice.
The irony of Americans flocking to another Chinese-owned app hasn’t gone unnoticed. “How funny would it be if they ban TikTok and we all just move over to this Chinese app,” joked TikTok creator Manimatana Lee in a viral post. The hashtag #TikTokRefugee has been viewed over 100 million times, sparking debates and camaraderie among users.
Despite the hiccups, RedNote’s user base in the U.S. is booming. The app, valued at over $17 billion in 2024, is now the most downloaded free app on the U.S. Apple App Store. This sudden popularity has even caught lawmakers’ attention, and they’re now considering if RedNote should face the same divest-or-ban law as TikTok.
For many TikTok users, the move to RedNote is more than just switching apps; it’s making a statement. “We’re coming to the Chinese spies and begging them to let us stay here,” quipped one American user on RedNote. A user in Shanghai playfully replied, “Approved, welcome to Red Note.”
As the TikTok ban deadline looms, the future of social media in the U.S. is up in the air. Will RedNote become the new go-to platform for short-form video content, or will another app rise to the occasion? Only time will tell, but for now, American TikTok users are making the best of their new digital home.
