Summary

• With TikTok facing a potential US ban, the Chinese social media app Rednote is experiencing a surge in popularity as a potential alternative.
• Combining elements of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote boasts a $17 billion valuation, backed by tech giants Alibaba and Tencent.
• Former TikTok creators and users are migrating to Rednote, propelling it to the top of the US App Store charts.

A new social media app, Rednote, is rapidly gaining popularity as US users and content creators seek alternatives to TikTok, which faces potential imminent shutdown. Following legal challenges throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a Department of Justice lawsuit in October, TikTok's future in the US hangs in the balance. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, TikTok will be removed from app stores starting January 19, 2025, with the company itself indicating readiness for a US shutdown.

This looming ban has spurred a mass exodus to alternative platforms, with Rednote (known as Xiaohongshu or XHS in China) emerging as a leading contender. Often described as a blend of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote, founded in 2013, initially focused on product reviews before evolving into a major platform for Chinese beauty and health influencers. Boasting a predominantly female user base (over 70%), it holds a $17 billion valuation (July 2024), backed by Tencent and Alibaba.

Chinese Social Media App Rednote May Be First in Line for TikTok's Throne

Rednote's design, incorporating elements similar to TikTok and Pinterest, has propelled it to the top of the US App Store charts, surpassing apps like Lemon8, ChatGPT, and Threads. As of January 13th, it's the most downloaded app in the US, attracting a wave of TikTok creators establishing a presence. Videos documenting Rednote's rise are going viral across platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, with Chinese users on Rednote even welcoming the influx of American users.

The irony isn't lost: as TikTok, a Chinese-owned app, faces removal from the US market, another Chinese app may be poised to take its place. Rednote's sustained popularity remains to be seen in the coming days, after which TikTok's US fate will be clearer. A complete US ban on TikTok would likely further boost Rednote's user base.