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TikTok Rebellion sends China App Signups Soaring

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#1 Rank on App Store in Huge Migration

As the clock ticks down to a potential TikTok ban in the United States, millions of American users are fleeing the platform in search of a new digital home. Their destination? Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media app known as “Red Note,” which has surged to the top of the U.S. App Store charts. This mass migration, fueled by frustration with U.S. lawmakers and a desire to avoid platforms like Instagram and Facebook, has turned Xiaohongshu into an unlikely sanctuary for so-called “TikTok refugees.” But the irony is hard to ignore: while TikTok faces a ban over its ties to China, American users are flocking to a platform that is unabashedly Chinese.

The Rise of Little Red Book

Xiaohongshu, which translates to “Little Red Note,” is a lifestyle and social shopping app that has long been a cornerstone of China’s digital landscape. Founded in 2013, the platform boasts over 300 million monthly active users and generated more than $1 billion in profits in 2024. Unlike TikTok, which focuses on short-form videos, Xiaohongshu combines photo slideshows, detailed text posts, and e-commerce features, making it more akin to Instagram than TikTok.

The app’s sudden popularity in the U.S. is a direct response to the looming TikTok ban. On January 19, 2025, TikTok could be forced to shut down unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its U.S. operations. This deadline follows a Supreme Court hearing on January 10, where justices appeared skeptical of TikTok’s arguments that the ban violates the First Amendment.

The Irony of the Migration

The migration to Xiaohongshu is steeped in irony. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny in the U.S. over fears that the Chinese government could access user data or manipulate content. Yet, American users are now flocking to Xiaohongshu, a platform that is not only Chinese-owned but also deeply embedded in China’s digital ecosystem.

For many TikTok refugees, the decision to join Xiaohongshu is as much a political statement as it is a practical one. “I would rather stare at a language I can’t understand than ever use a social media platform that Mark Zuckerberg owns,” one user declared in a viral post. This sentiment reflects widespread distrust of Meta, which many believe has lobbied for the TikTok ban to bolster its own competitive apps, such as Instagram Reels.

The Road to the Ban

The proposed TikTok ban stems from the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a bipartisan law passed in April 2024. The law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns.

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During the Supreme Court hearing on January 10, justices expressed skepticism about TikTok’s claims that the ban infringes on free speech. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that Congress’s primary concern is not the content on TikTok but the potential for China to access user data. “Congress is fine with the expression. They’re not fine with a foreign adversary gathering all this information about the 170 million people who use TikTok,” Roberts said.

Trump’s Promise to “Rescue” TikTok

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to “rescue” TikTok. Trump, who is not particularly popular among TikTok’s predominantly young user base, has vowed to broker a deal to save the app if the Supreme Court upholds the ban.

This promise has been met with mixed reactions. Some see it as a genuine effort to preserve a platform that has become a cultural phenomenon, while others view it as a political maneuver to gain favor with younger voters. Trump’s history with TikTok is complicated: during his first term, he attempted to ban the app but later softened his stance, reportedly after meeting with ByteDance executives.

The Anger Toward Meta

Many TikTok users believe that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has played a significant role in pushing for the ban. Meta’s own short-form video platform, Instagram Reels, has struggled to compete with TikTok, and some see the ban as an attempt to eliminate a major competitor.

This perception has fueled resentment toward Meta and driven users to seek alternatives like Xiaohongshu. “I don’t trust Meta at all,” one TikTok refugee said. “They’ve shown time and again that they care more about profits than people”.

A Cultural Collision on Xiaohongshu

The influx of American users has created a unique cultural exchange on Xiaohongshu. English-speaking users are relying on translation tools to navigate the platform, while Chinese users are offering tips and welcoming the newcomers. Live audio chatrooms have become popular spaces for cross-cultural conversations, with topics ranging from pop culture to social issues.

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“It’s fine, you are not interrupting. When you guys are active, we are sleeping,” one Chinese user commented on a video posted by an American TikTok refugee.

What Lies Ahead?

The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. If the Supreme Court upholds the ban, ByteDance will have until January 19 to sell the app or face a shutdown. Meanwhile, Xiaohongshu’s sudden popularity raises questions about its own future in the U.S. While the app is not explicitly targeted by the ban, it could face similar scrutiny if it continues to grow.

For now, Xiaohongshu has become a symbol of resistance and resilience for TikTok refugees. Whether it remains a temporary refuge or evolves into a permanent fixture in the U.S. social media landscape, its rise underscores the power of digital communities to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.


Links for more info;

  1. Wired: With a TikTok Ban Looming, Users Flee to Chinese App ‘Red Note’
  2. Daily Caller: Taylor Lorenz, Other Users Flock To Another Chinese App
  3. The Verge: What It Will Take for TikTok to Survive in the US
  4. Bloomberg: TikTok Refugees Flock to China’s RedNote
  5. Neon Music: Inside RedNote
  6. New York Post: What is RedNote?
  7. CBS News: Supreme Court Seems Likely to Uphold TikTok Ban
  8. DW: Will Donald Trump Be Able to Save TikTok in the US?
  9. The Verge: RedNote Tops App Store Chart
  10. UX Collective: Why TikTok Refugees Are Flocking to Xiaohongshu

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