What is Rednote and why are TikTok users downloading it?

The clock is ticking for TikTok as the app is set to shut down in the US on January 19 – US TikTok users and creators are turning to another Chinese short-form video app known as Xiaohongshu or RedNote in English.

Why is TikTok being banned in the US?

TikTok faces a US ban due to concerns over user privacy and national security, but the app could stay on if Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance agrees to sell TikTok to an American owner.

ByteDance has indicated that it has no intention of selling the company, and if the ban goes through, the app will likely be removed from the App Store and Google’s Play Store.

Users who installed the app before the impending ban will still be able to access TikTok, but will be cut off from future security updates, which will likely lead to the app degrading over time.

As a result, more TikTok users have flocked to RedNote, leading the app to rise to the top of free apps in the US App Store.

What is RedNote?

RedNote (Xiaohongshu translates to “Little Red Book”) launched in 2013 and was first designed as a shopping platform where users could share product reviews and experiences.

It’s not exactly a TikTok clone – RedNote is often thought of as the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, with some comparing the app’s layout to Pinterest.

RedNote saw its Chinese-based user base surge during the pandemic, mirroring TikTok’s trajectory in the US. The app’s growth led to a focus on short-format video and streaming, marking RedNote as a TikTok alternative.

Now, many American TikTok creators are promoting RedNote to their followers and branding themselves as #TikTokRefugees.

Why are TikTokers flocking to RedNote?

Much of the focus on RedNote could be seen as a form of rebellion against the impending US ban.

Many commentators noted the friendly relations between Chinese and American users on the video sharing app.

There have always been US alternatives to TikTok – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Shorts have taken steps to emulate TikTok’s short-form video feed, but none have managed to grow into the dominant cultural engine that fuels memes and online trends.

Younger, progressive users are unlikely to embrace Facebook and Instagram in the wake of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joining the culture war, allowing users to describe LGBTQ+ people as “mentally ill” under Meta’s new moderation policies – Zuckerberg defended the company’s shift in a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.

YouTube Shorts is developing its own culture, having moved beyond being a conveyor belt of Skibidi toilet clip, but the platform will soon be set embrace generative AI, which might flood the timeline with non-human slop.

Still, RedNote’s dominance is far from guaranteed, as the online landscape is still in flux and users can be incredibly reluctant to move platforms even if the user experience breaks down.

“X,” the site formerly known as Twitter, is still operating (sort of), with many users flipping between X and its competitor Bluesky, and others choosing to abandon text-based platforms altogether.

In a strange twist of fate, President-elect Donald Trump may end up being the unlikely savior of TikTok, as Trump’s popularity on the platform has apparently led him to reverse his position on the video-sharing app from his first time in office.

The president-elect asked, “Why should I get rid of TikTok?” on Truth Social, along with a graphic showing his engagement metrics on the app.

TikTok’s fate will soon be decided, but if the ban goes through, expect a more fragmented web — some users will flee to RedNote, others will be transferred to rival video-sharing platforms, and some may just log off altogether.

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