Amid rising uncertainties surrounding TikTok's future in the United States, a new digital contender has emerged. RedNote, a popular app among young people in China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions, has captured the attention of American users. The app, known as Xiaohongshu or "Little Red Book," boasts approximately 300 million monthly users and combines features reminiscent of both TikTok and Instagram. Despite its name, RedNote is not connected to Mao Zedong's infamous book of quotations. Instead, it has become a haven for those termed "TikTok refugees" seeking a new platform amid potential bans.
As the Supreme Court approaches a critical decision that may force TikTok to sell its U.S. operations by January 19 or face a ban, RedNote has seen a surge in downloads. This influx of users has propelled the app to the top of Apple's U.S. App Store charts. New users, including Sarah Fotheringham from Utah, express a mix of humor and defiance in their migration. Fotheringham remarked, "I don't have anything that China doesn't, and if they want my data that bad they can have it." The sentiment reflects both skepticism and resignation to the shifting landscape of social media platforms.
"I don't have anything that China doesn't, and if they want my data that bad they can have it" – Sarah Fotheringham
RedNote offers features similar to its counterparts but with distinct challenges. Some users, like Marcus Robinson, have encountered censorship issues related to discussions critical of the Chinese government. Robinson noted, "I wasn't able to actually read them so that was a little concerning to me." Despite these challenges, many users remain optimistic about the new platform's potential for growth and connection.
"I wasn't able to actually read them so that was a little concerning to me" – Marcus Robinson
In Taiwan, public officials face restrictions on using RedNote due to alleged security risks associated with Chinese software. Nevertheless, this has not deterred individuals like Sydney Crawley from embracing the app's potential. Crawley expressed her determination to continue building a presence on RedNote regardless of TikTok's fate. She stated, "Even if TikTok does stay I will continue to use my platform I've created on RedNote."
"Even if TikTok does stay I will continue to use my platform I've created on RedNote" – Sydney Crawley
The app has welcomed its new users with open arms, as evidenced by the 63,000 posts tagged "TikTok refugee." These posts serve as guides for navigating RedNote's features and learning basic Mandarin phrases. For some users, like Marcus Robinson, adapting to the linguistic differences presents an exciting opportunity. He shared his enthusiasm, saying, "I love RedNote so far … I just need to learn how to speak Mandarin!"
"I love RedNote so far … I just need to learn how to speak Mandarin!" – Marcus Robinson
The community of "TikTok refugees" is rapidly growing on RedNote, driven by both curiosity and a desire to maintain social connections in the face of potential platform changes. One user humorously addressed their hosts by saying, "To our Chinese hosts, thanks for having us – sorry in advance for the chaos."
"To our Chinese hosts, thanks for having us – sorry in advance for the chaos" – a new US user