Amid the looming TikTok US Ban, expected to take effect on Sunday, January 19, a similar Chinese social media app called Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote, has been making waves online, with memes about the app flooding the internet. Accordingly, netizens are wondering what this app is, what it offers, and how it compares to TikTok.
Here is all we know about Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote.
Xiaohongshu aka RedNote goes viral amid TikTok US Ban
Many TikTok users downloaded and began using RedNote aka Xiaohongshu, after facing the threat of the former platform’s ban in the United States. Here, the users were called “TikTok refugees” by existing Chinese RedNote users, who warmly welcomed them. Some veteran RedNote users also shared video tutorials to newcomers on how to use the application. Xiaohongshu translates to “Little Red Book.”
RedNote became the most downloaded app on the Apple App Store on Tuesday.
RedNote was founded in 2013. It is owned and was developed by the Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology. This is both a social media and e-commerce application. Here, users can share content spanning multiple lifestyle areas like food, travel, beauty, fashion, and fitness. Users can share content through images, short-form videos, and livestreams.
There are 300 million users on the app, with women making up 79% of the user base. RedNote’s popularity grew so much that it reflected on its rival app, TikTok. Many users shared memes describing their experience of using the app for the first time. However, some have expressed skepticism regarding the surging popularity of the app.
Several users have found the app easier, more comfortable, and more engaging than TikTok. They will likely continue using the platform even if the TikTok US Ban does not take effect. A Tennessee tech worker, Sydney Crawley, mentioned in an interview with BBC that they will continue using RedNote and try to grow their following there. Crawley added that she accumulated over 6000 followers on the platform in one day.
