Meet RedNote, the new app gaining popularity amid TikTok ban
What's the story
With the threat of a possible ban hanging over TikTok in the US, users are migrating to an alternative platform called RedNote (Xiaohongshu in China). The move follows a law signed by outgoing President Joe Biden, requiring ByteDance to divest its US operations by January 19, 2025 or face a ban. Despite the uncertainty over TikTok's fate, American users appear unbothered and are flocking to RedNote.
User migration
RedNote's popularity surges amid TikTok's uncertain future
Xiaohongshu, which means "the little red book" in Mandarin, is a social media platform for sharing videos, photos, and text posts. The app, launched in China in 2013, has gained a lot of traction with over 300 million monthly active users. It works just like TikTok, letting users vertically scroll through feeds of short videos according to their interests. Though much of its interface is in Chinese language, there are guides on how to switch the app's language to English.
Platform transition
TikTok influencers encourage shift to RedNote
According to TechCrunch, many TikTok creators are asking their followers to switch over to RedNote. This trend is playing a major role in the app's rising popularity in the US. Currently valued at $17 billion, RedNote has already topped Apple's App Store and ranks 34th on Google Play Store. All this points toward a shift in user preferences toward this new social media amid TikTok's uncertain future in the US market.
Market response
Other social media platforms gain traction amid TikTok's woes
Along with RedNote, other apps such as Lemon8 and Flip are also trending on Apple and Google's stores amid the looming TikTok ban. Lemon8, another ByteDance app, could meet the same fate as TikTok if the US Supreme Court favors the law introduced by Biden Administration. Flip, an app from Los Angeles-based Humans, Inc., offers short videos and an in-app storefront. It ranks 14th on Google's store and fourth on Apple's.
Rising competitor
ReelShort also benefits from TikTok's potential ban
ReelShort, another social media app, has also witnessed a spike in popularity amid the potential TikTok ban. It is currently sitting at seventh rank in the App Store and second on Google Play. All these developments point to a major shift in user preferences toward alternative platforms amid the continued uncertainty over TikTok's future in the US market. The Biden administration has defended the law, arguing that China's control of TikTok through ByteDance poses a serious national security threat.