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

Why is TikTok banned in the US?

TikTok faces a U.S. ban due to user privacy and national security concerns, but the app could stay if Chinese parent company ByteDance agrees to sell TikTok to a U.S. 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 Google’s App Store and Play Store.

Users who installed the app before the upcoming ban will still be able to access TikTok, but will be excluded from future security updates, which will likely cause the app to become worse over time.

As a result, several TikTok users flocked to RedNote, resulting in the app shooting to the top of free apps in the US App Store.

What is RedNote?

Launched in 2013, RedNote (Xiaohongshu means “Little Red Book”) was initially designed as a shopping platform where users could share product reviews and experiences.

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

RedNote saw its China-based user base increase during the pandemic, mirroring TikTok’s performance in the US. The app’s growth led to a focus on short-form videos and streaming, making RedNote a TikTok alternative.

Many US TikTok creators are now making RedNote known to their followers and calling themselves #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 commenters pointed to the friendly relations between Chinese and US users of the video-sharing app.

There have always been US alternatives to TikTok – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Shorts have made moves to emulate TikTok’s short-video feed, but none of them have managed to emerge as the dominant cultural engine driving memes and online trends.

Younger, progressive users are unlikely to embrace Facebook and Instagram after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined the culture wars and will allow users to label LGBTQ+ people as “mentally ill” under Meta’s new moderation policies – Zuckerberg defended the company’s change in a recent statement The Joe Rogan Experience.

YouTube Shorts is developing its own culture and has moved beyond the mere assembly line Skibidi toilet Clips, but the platform will soon introduce generative AI that could flood the timeline with non-human crap.

Still, RedNote’s dominance is far from guaranteed, as the online landscape is still changing and users can be extremely reluctant to switch platforms even if the user experience deteriorates.

“X,” the website formerly known as Twitter, is still functioning (somehow), with many users switching 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 could end up being TikTok’s unlikely savior, as Trump’s popularity on the platform has apparently led to him changing his position on the video-sharing app since his first term.

The president-elect asked, “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?” on Truth Social, alongside a graphic showing his engagement metrics on the app.

TikTok’s fate will be decided soon, but if the ban goes into effect, expect a more fragmented web – some users will flee to RedNote, others will be diverted to rival video-sharing platforms, and some may opt out altogether .

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