Little-known Chinese social media app Rednote, stylised as REDnote, has surged to become the most downloaded free app in the US App Store, as TikTok users scramble to find alternatives ahead of a looming ban. The platform — dubbed "Xiaohongshu" in China — has seen a dramatic increase in downloads from iPhone owners in the United States just days before TikTok faces a potential shutdown on January 19, 2025.
Last year, US President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that will block TikTok in the USA unless its parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, fails to divest the popular short video app before mid-January.
US lawmakers were spurred into action over fears that ByteDance, which launched back in 2012 but didn't launch TikTok until September 2017, is backed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Like many Chinese corporations, ByteDance has an internal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) committee, which sees Vice President Zhang Fuping serving as ByteDance's CCP Committee Secretary.
TikTok says it never stores US user information on servers in China. However, the video-sharing platform does collect information on its users to learn their tastes and suggest relevant clips.
Of course, TikTok is not alone — dozens of other companies, such as Meta-owned Facebook collect, store and share users' data, but US lawmakers government has never treated that activity as a national security threat or enacted data protections.
Rumours suggest ByteDance could sell the platform's US operations to X owner Elon Musk.
Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin previously confirmed plans to cobble together an investor group to try to buy TikTok if the outright ban goes ahead.
With the ban looming, self-described "TikTok refugees" who are preparing for life without the popular app have flooded REDnote.
REDnote combines elements of TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, offering users a mix of short-form videos, lifestyle content, and e-commerce features. Launched back in 2013 in Shanghai, the social media app has grown to become one of China's fastest-growing social platforms. This popularity has resulted in a $17 billion valuation.
The platform currently boasts 300 million monthly active users, with women making up 79% of its user base. REDnote's interface allows users to share product reviews, experiences and lifestyle content. Like TikTok, it allows users to buy products featured in videos directly within the social media app.
Primarily designed for Chinese users (the app doesn't even offer a complete English translation), the platform's dynamic mix of content has resonated with TikTok's displaced audience.
The name "Xiaohongshu" translates to "little red book" in Mandarin, though the app has no connection to Chinese Communist literature despite the similar name.
TikTok faces the ban due to national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership. US lawmakers from the Republication and Democrat parties believe ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese government to share American users' data — something TikTok and ByteDance vehemently deny.
The legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in April 2024.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in TikTok's case on Friday, with justices appearing sceptical of the company's position.
"Congress doesn't care about what's on TikTok," Chief Justice John Roberts said during oral arguments. "They don't care about the expression. That's shown by the remedy. They're not saying TikTok has to stop. They're saying the Chinese have to stop controlling TikTok."
Justice Elena Kagan added that the "law is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesn't have First Amendment rights."
TikTok's lawyer, Noel Francisco, argued it would be impossible to complete a sale by January 19 deadline.
Many TikTok creators have begun actively promoting REDnote to their followers.
"Look I might not have a job in the next week, but we about to learn Mandarin baby!" wrote TikTok user allieusyaps in a post. Another creator, Krystan Walmsley, shared a video teaching people how to set up their REDnote accounts, noting "This app is so cute and it's a lot of fun so far."
Many former TikTok users have praised the welcoming atmosphere from Chinese users on the platform, with many helping to educate the newcomers on how to use the platform, which uses Mandarin throughout its interface with no English translation available.
Nina, a new REDnote user based in Texas, told Global Times: "I wouldn't want to part ways with such a lovely community."
The migration has pushed several other apps up the rankings too, with ByteDance's Lemon8 reaching second place in Apple's App Store. Another app called Flip, which combines social media with shopping features, has risen to fourth place.
President-elect Donald Trump has sought to delay the TikTok ban, filing a court brief requesting time to find a solution through "political means" once he takes office on January 20. This marks a shift from Trump's previous stance, as he attempted to ban TikTok during his first term in 2020.
If the ban takes effect on January 19, TikTok will be removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store, preventing new downloads. Existing users will still be able to access the app initially, but it will eventually become unusable without updates.
Internet service providers will also be required by law to make the app inaccessible to US internet browsers. TikTok's lawyer warned the social media service would "quickly go dark" and "essentially shut down" if the ban moves ahead.
The ban could have unintended consequences to the creator economy, with Professor Jess Maddox of the University of Alabama telling CNN it would be "absolutely catastrophic for the creators and small businesses who rely on it."
Data provided by TikTok shows that some 7 million US small businesses on the app stand to lose $1 billion in revenue, with 2 million individual creators out of pocket to the tune of $300 million in the first month if the ban goes ahead.
TikTok users with at least 100,000 followers will be eligible to join the Creator Fund, which offers between $0.02 and $0.04 for every 1,000 views. That's $20-40 for one million views, roughly £16-23 converted.
Most social media creators don't make the most of their revenue from TikTok alone, instead using the platform to promote songs on Spotify and other streamer services, monetisation platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans, or by selling items from the TikTok Shop — an Amazon-like competitor baked into the app.
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ByteDance has previously confirmed that it has over 150 million users in the United States of America. In a press release published in late 2023, the social media app confirmed: "TikTok is a special place where Americans come together to learn, be entertained, grow their business, as they continue to create, discover and connect with a broader global community.
"Today, we're celebrating our mission as we continue to inspire creativity and bring joy across the United States for more than 150 million people. We're honoured to be a home for our immensely diverse community in the United States, made up of nearly half the country's population, including book lovers, foodies, families, emerging artists and so much more.
"This milestone would not have been possible without the hard work and unwavering commitment of almost 7,000 TikTok employees in the US, as well as our incredible community in the country and around the world."
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