TikTok alternative RedNote (Xiaohongshu) soars to No. 1 on the App Store
With TikTok’s future in doubt, another Chinese app, RedNote, is quickly becoming the new digital home for displaced creators in the U.S.
As TikTok faces an uncertain future in the U.S., another Chinese social media app is taking center stage. Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote in English (not affiliated with the Redmi Note series 😄), has surged to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store, surpassing Tiktok's sister social media app Lemon8 and AI chat tool ChatGPT.
TikTok's potential January 19 shutdown has left over 170 million U.S. users scrambling for alternatives. Many TikTok creators are promoting RedNote as an alternative and encouraging their followers to migrate to the app. The hashtag 'TikTok refugee' has racked up nearly 60 million views on social media, with users sharing tutorials on how to set up their RedNote accounts. But the sudden surge isn’t just about creators looking for a new platform — it’s likely a form of quiet protest against the U.S. government’s attempts to ban TikTok.
David Adubiina
Founded in 2013 in Shanghai, RedNote initially served as a social shopping platform, focusing on lifestyle content like fashion, travel, and product reviews. Today, it boasts over 300 million monthly active users, with 79% of them women. The app’s growth skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, and it’s now being seen as a viable TikTok alternative for American users.
But while RedNote may be riding a wave of newfound popularity, it could face its regulatory challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating TikTok’s fate, with arguments centering on national security risks and free speech protections. If the court upholds the ban, third-party service providers like Apple and Google will be required to remove TikTok from their platforms. This uncertainty has sparked concerns that other Chinese apps, including ByteDance’s Lemon8, may also face restrictions.
David Adubiina
Interestingly, RedNote’s rise is also fostering unique cultural exchanges between Chinese and American users. Chinese users have warmly welcomed their new “guests,” even sharing video tutorials to help Americans navigate the app. One user commented, “This could be a historic moment. Ordinary people from our two countries have never really connected before.”
Despite the buzz, it remains to be seen whether RedNote can sustain its momentum in the U.S. If TikTok survives the legal challenges, users may flock back to familiar territory. But for now, RedNote’s rise highlights the global ripple effects of TikTok’s uncertain future — and the growing appetite for alternative platforms in an increasingly fragmented social media space.
Louis Eriakha
