What is RedNote — the Chinese- owned TikTok alternative that's trending in the App Store as ban looms
Tens of millions of American users of TikTok who are girding for a ban of the app are migrating en masse to another Chinese-owned platform.
Tens of millions of American users of TikTok who are girding for a ban of the app are migrating en masse to another Chinese-owned platform that has emerged as an alternative.
RedNote, which is known in China as Xiaohongshu, the Mandarin term for “little red book,” is the most downloaded free app on the Apple App Store as of Monday.
The digital migration of so-called “TikTok Refugees” comes ahead of the Jan. 19 deadline when TikTok could face suspension in the US unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests the app.
While primarily designed for Chinese users, the platform’s dynamic mix of lifestyle content, videos, and community-building tools has resonated with TikTok’s displaced audience.
“The reason there are so many Americans coming over all at once is because TikTok is about to be banned in the US,” explained WakoGeek, a new RedNote user, in a video.
The app offers features reminiscent of TikTok, including short-form videos and engaging communities, while also standing out with its emphasis on lifestyle inspiration, product reviews, and shopping options.