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Users Flock to Chinese-Owned Rednote Ahead of TikTok Ban

As the U.S. government moves closer to banning TikTok, millions of users are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media app, as an alternative. RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, has surged to the top of the Apple App Store in the U.S. thanks to thousands of users suddenly signing up to the platform, positioning itself as a potential successor to TikTok.

The looming TikTok ban stems from national security concerns. The U.S. government alleges that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, could share user data with the Chinese government. TikTok denies these claims, but the law signed by President Biden requires ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, or TikTok will be banned.

RedNote, launched in 2013 by Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology, differs from TikTok. While it includes short-form videos, the platform blends elements of Instagram and Pinterest, offering text posts and integrated shopping features. RedNote’s appeal lies in its dynamic content, which, according to creator William Wong, makes it “a mix of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.” Unlike the other popular alternative, Lemon8, it also isn’t owned by the same company, and therefore doesn’t really have any chance of being folded into the ban.

For many U.S. TikTok users, RedNote represents more than just a new platform. Some see their migration as a protest against what they perceive as governmental overreach – and, for some, a way to bridge the gap between the people of the U.S. and China. Many Chinese users have been welcoming to new U.S. users, although some are wary of the sudden shift in the platform’s demographics as more and more western users sign up.

While RedNote enjoys its newfound popularity, its future remains uncertain. The legislation targeting TikTok could theoretically extend to other foreign-owned apps, raising questions about whether RedNote might face similar scrutiny – but, on the other hand, Xiaohongshu’s surge in U.S. users marks a rare notable occasion where western and eastern users are mingling on the same app rather than being split across two platforms (like Tiktok having a dedicated Chinese counterpart, Douyin).

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