In a live chat event dubbed “TikTok Refugees,” more than 50,000 American and Chinese users flocked to the Chinese social media platform RedNote (the Chinese version of TikTok) just days before a proposed U.S. ban on TikTok, sources revealed to Reuters. The lesser-known platform, scrambling to capitalize on this sudden influx, faces the challenge of moderating English-language content while maintaining a delicate balance with its Chinese origins.
Veteran Chinese users, welcoming their American counterparts, exchanged notes on topics such as food and youth unemployment. However, some discussions veered into more sensitive areas. One American user asked, “Is it ok to talk about how laws differ between China and Hong Kong?” to which a Chinese user responded, “We prefer not to talk about that here.”
Such impromptu cultural exchanges were taking place across RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, as the app surged to the top of U.S. download charts this week. This spike in popularity came as American social media users scrambled for alternatives to ByteDance-owned TikTok, just days before the app’s potential U.S. ban.
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In a mere two days, more than 700,000 new users joined Xiaohongshu, according to a source familiar with the company. RedNote, however, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
U.S. downloads of RedNote surged by over 200% year-over-year this week and increased by 194% from the previous week, according to Sensor Tower, an app data research firm. Another ByteDance-owned app, Lemon8, also saw a significant surge in downloads in December, jumping by 190% to approximately 3.4 million.
The rapid influx of users caught RedNote off guard. Two sources familiar with the company told Reuters that the platform scrambled to moderate English-language content and develop English-Chinese translation tools.
Despite the challenges, the company is eager to capitalize on the attention, seeing this moment as a potential opportunity to achieve global popularity similar to TikTok’s.
RedNote, valued at $17 billion in its latest funding round, is a venture-backed startup that allows users to curate photos, videos, and text documenting their lives. In recent years, it has become a go-to search engine for its 300 million-plus users, seeking travel tips, anti-aging advice, and restaurant recommendations.
The stock prices of several Chinese companies that do business with RedNote, including Hangzhou Onechance Tech Corp, surged by as much as 20% on Tuesday, hitting their daily limit.
This U.S. user surge coincides with a looming deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face a U.S. ban on national security grounds. TikTok, which has around 170 million American users, is immensely popular with young people and the advertisers targeting them.
Also READ: China Reportedly Considers Selling TikTok US to Elon Musk If Supreme Court Upholds Ban
For some users, joining RedNote feels like a symbolic act against government overreach. Stella Kittrell, a 29-year-old content creator from Baltimore, Maryland, said, “Americans using RedNote feels like a cheeky middle finger to the U.S. government for its overreach into businesses and privacy concerns.” She joined RedNote in hopes of fostering further collaborations with Chinese companies, which she found valuable.
Other users cited their desire to seek alternatives to Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, or to Elon Musk’s X. However, some expressed skepticism about rebuilding their TikTok following on those platforms. “It’s not the same: Instagram, X, or any other app,” said Brian Atabansi, a 29-year-old business analyst and content creator from San Diego, California. “Mainly because of how organic it is to build a community on TikTok,” he added.
