Last Updated on January 23, 2025
With the US Supreme Court upholding the TikTok ban on the country, users are now more eager to find an alternative app to facilitate their bite-sized video content creation and consumption needs.
In the third week of January 2025, over half a million American internet users moved from TikTok to RedNote. This marks not only one of the biggest social media user migrations in history but also an unprecedented occurrence where a Chinese community-centric platform saw an unusual influx of non-domestic account registrations and app downloads.
Here’s what we know about the situation and what TikTok refugees may expect when they decide to completely shift their creative ventures to RedNote.
Why are US social media users moving from TikTok to RedNote?
TikTok’s looming ban was not a sudden phenomenon. This discussion started way back in 2020 and progressed quickly when the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) was signed in April 2024.
This law effectively requires the platform’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the video-sharing app that caters to 170 million US users by January 17, 2025.
Source: Nikuga on Pixabay
With this ultimatum, the term “TikTok Refugees” was created. In an effort to find alternative platforms to continue their content creation and community engagement, RedNote has become the most downloaded free app in the U.S. App Store.
In merely two days, the Chinese social media platform attracted over 700,000 new U.S. users who scrambled to learn its interface and understand the app’s domestic social dynamic.
On January 19th, TikTok ceased services for American users. In addition to blocking these accounts from accessing the platform, the company removed the application from popular mobile app stores like Google Play and Apple App Store.
Although services were resumed as soon as the new administration took office, the looming uncertainty and sudden disruption will surely make TikTok refugees more eager to settle down on alternative platforms like RedNote in the long run.
The dilemma of TikTok Refugees on RedNote: Is it a good alternative or not?
Switching platforms always comes with a learning curve, and the move from TikTok to RedNote is no exception. For some users, this offers exciting opportunities to build a brand-new digital presence, sell products virtually, or discover more niche communities.
However, others may find the transition challenging due to RedNote’s focus on localized content and its predominantly Chinese user base.
The question of whether RedNote is a viable alternative ultimately depends on the user’s goals. Creators interested in tapping into China’s vast digital marketplace may find it invaluable for their creative and business ventures.
On the other hand, those seeking a purely entertainment-driven experience might find some of the platform’s commercial-centric features less appealing.
Is TikTok and RedNote similar?
Initially, RedNote is more reminiscent of Instagram’s image-sharing layout. However, as the local social media app became more popular, it has evolved as a super app, featuring not only a video-sharing channel but also a dynamic e-commerce ecosystem that users and businesses can utilize to sell and purchase products.
If you inspect closely, the most similar feature of TikTok and RedNote is their video-sharing feed interface. Both are heavily algorithm-driven and designed to encourage users to watch and scroll through endless video recommendations.
TikTok remains primarily a video-based entertainment app, emphasizing viral trends and short-form content. Meanwhile, RedNote includes a more dynamic structure that features media-rich notes, static images, carousel photos, live streams, short-form vertical videos, and more. In short, its landscape is more segmented into different functions than TikTok.
Challenges TikTok Users May Face on RedNote
Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu) has recently changed its international app name from RED to RedNote. However, it’s worth noting that XHS and RedNote are two different platform versions.
The international version has an English interface, making it easier for foreign users to navigate. This may seem like good news, but the reality is the majority of the platform’s users are Chinese. It means that the content is generally localized, and the algorithm favors posts that focus on domestic trends and keywords.
This can lead foreign creators to struggle with audience engagement and discoverability in the long run, especially since most RedNote users are likelier to participate in topics related to Chinese culture and the local market.
These new users should also remember that RedNote operates in a completely different digital ecosystem. With its stringent content moderation, some already experienced account suspensions due to the platform’s stringent regulations, mainly when reposting their old videos with the TikTok watermark.
Organic political content may have been allowed on TikTok, but RedNote abides by the Chinese government’s digital laws. Because of this, posts that may affect the country’s political stability are heavily moderated and censored.
Creators must remember that controversial topics commonly allowed on global social platforms can be filtered in RedNote. As a result, users may find their posts removed or get their accounts suspended.
Many TikTok refugees also reported having difficulty verifying their RedNote account using a US-based contact number. There were instances of not receiving the verification codes, prompting them to try repeatedly, only to be suspended because of suspected bot activities.
What Lies Ahead?
The move from TikTok to RedNote was a direct result of the ever-changing and trend-driven social media landscape in the West. While there’s no guarantee that these users will stay or not, it seems like Xingyin Information Technology, which owns RedNote, currently shows no signs of adjusting its localized algorithm to accommodate the needs of these new users.
It’s also worth mentioning that RedNote is subjected to the same Chinese data laws as TikTok. This means that the problem this tech giant is currently facing in the US may also loom over RedNote’s future if its Western traction continues.
Another possibility is for RedNote to realize the platform’s global potential and launch a separate application specifically targeted to foreign users, like what Douyin did for TikTok. However, this migration is too premature and poses too many risks, especially with the current political climate in the US.
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While RedNote is the international version of Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), many of its features are similar to those of the domestic social media app. The recent surge of TikTok refugees demonstrates how its interface and functions appeal to international audiences.
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References:
TikTok users’ attempted migration to Chinese app RedNote isn’t going too well
5 scenarios showing the REDnote refugee trend (unfortunately) won’t end well