With a possible TikTok ban underway, many U.S. users are switching to a surprising alternative: Chinese app Xiaohongshu, or RedNote in English.
TikTok’s ban was largely due to national security concerns as the U.S. government is concerned that the Chinese government has access to more than 170 million Americans personal data that they use to spread misinformation and sway public opinion. Last spring, President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok if ByteDance—TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company—doesn’t sell the app to a U.S. buyer. However, if bought, Tiktok will stay on both Apple and Google app stores. The deadline for the TikTok sale is January 19th, so, if nothing happens by then, TikTok will be banned in the United States.
Known as Xiaohongshu in China, which translates to “little red book”, RedNote is a social media platform that has a layout similar to Pinterest and includes images, short-form videos, community building tools, shopping, and more. According to TechCrunch, “RedNote focuses on short-term content, similar to TikTok, and has emerged as a viable alternative to TikTok.” This week, in the Apple app store, RedNote was the top social networking app.
RedNote has become one of China’s most popular social media and e-commerce apps, with more than 300 million users using it for tips on fashion, makeup, travel, and more. Additionally, many influencers on TikTok are switching over to RedNote. Beauty influencer James Charles, who has more than 39.5 million followers on TikTok, posted a video saying that he receives less likes and less positive comments when sharing content on Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts. “I don’t understand how the audiences on the platforms are so different,” he stated.
As of Tuesday, the hashtag “TikTokRefugee” on RedNote garnered nearly 60 million views and over 1.7 million comments. People joked about meeting their “Chinese spy” on Red Note, with some Chinese users agreeing that they met their American counterpart. The app’s Chinese users appear to be welcoming these “refugees” with open arms, asking for cat photos and help with their English homework.
While RedNote is subject to government censorship, many Chinese users are cheering the opportunity for cross-cultural friendships, especially given the tense relationship between the U.S. and Chinese government. They’re both able to communicate in a way they are unable to on Western social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, which are all inaccessible in China without a VPN.
“For so long we really haven’t been able to connect or talk with each other like this, but now we finally can, and it feels so special.” one Chinese user, who identifies as Abe, said in a now-viral post. “This is such a real chance for us to get to know each other and maybe create something amazing together,” he added.
