What is RedNote, the Chinese social media app that US TikTokers are flocking to?
As Supreme Court justices ponder the future of TikTok in the United States, a growing number of American social media users have responded by moving to an unlikely alternative: Xiaohongshu, a hugely popular social media app in China.
The app, which means 바카라 게임 웹사이트Little Red Book,바카라 게임 웹사이트 often shortened by U.S. users to RedNote, surged to the top position on Apple바카라 게임 웹사이트s U.S. App Store on Tuesday.
Founded in 2013, Xiaohongshu is one of China바카라 게임 웹사이트s biggest social media platforms with 300 million users, according to research firm Qian Gua. Described as China바카라 게임 웹사이트s answer to Instagram, the app has become for sharing tips on travel, makeup and fashion.
But while it has cornered the Chinese market, it hasn바카라 게임 웹사이트t gained much prominence beyond the Chinese-speaking world. Until now.
Why is Xiaohongshu everywhere?
Xiaohongshu is surging in popularity worldwide in the same week that TikTok could potentially go offline in the U.S.
A growing number of American TikTok users have started appearing on the platform, often saying they바카라 게임 웹사이트re doing so as an act of defiance against Washington바카라 게임 웹사이트s move to control TikTok.
As of Tuesday, the hashtag 바카라 게임 웹사이트TikTok refugee바카라 게임 웹사이트 had garnered nearly 60 million views and over 1.7 million comments.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Our government is out of their minds if they think we바카라 게임 웹사이트re going to stand for this TikTok ban,바카라 게임 웹사이트 a user called Heather Roberts said in a video message on Xiaohongshu, which has garnered more than 45,000 likes. 바카라 게임 웹사이트We바카라 게임 웹사이트re just going to a new Chinese app, and here we are.바카라 게임 웹사이트
바카라 게임 웹사이트This is so much better than TikTok,바카라 게임 웹사이트 another self-proclaimed 바카라 게임 웹사이트refugee바카라 게임 웹사이트 said in video message. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Americans are coming here 바카라 게임 웹사이트 so sorry you바카라 게임 웹사이트ll hate us, but I promise we바카라 게임 웹사이트ll do our best.바카라 게임 웹사이트
CNN has reached out to Xiaohongshu for comment.
How are Chinese and American users interacting on the platform?
The sudden migration of U.S. users to Xiaohongshu has created an unlikely platform for Chinese and American users to interact with each other.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I just want to reassure you that we want to try to find a way to communicate with you, be respectful to your community,바카라 게임 웹사이트 one user said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트We want to be good guests.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Some American newbies have appealed to their compatriots to respect Chinese users on the platform.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Just a quick message for the American users coming over here: Please don바카라 게임 웹사이트t bring politics here. We want to have fun here, we want to enjoy here, and we want to show respect to the people who are already here,바카라 게임 웹사이트 one user posted.
Most Chinese users have warmly welcomed the newcomers, with some even sharing video tutorials to help the new 바카라 게임 웹사이트TikTok refugees바카라 게임 웹사이트 navigate the app.
바카라 게임 웹사이트This could be a historic moment,바카라 게임 웹사이트 one Chinese user commented. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It feels like so much has changed in an instant. Ordinary people from our two countries have never really connected before 바카라 게임 웹사이트 I hope everyone can take this brief chance to engage in meaningful exchanges of ideas.바카라 게임 웹사이트
One person even seized the opportunity presented by the influx of American netizens to ask for help with their English homework in a that garnered over 2,000 likes.
Ivy Yang, a China tech analyst and founder of consulting firm Wavelet Strategy, said the new American users had 바카라 게임 웹사이트unexpectedly created one of the most organic forms of cultural exchange between the U.S. and China we바카라 게임 웹사이트ve seen in recent years.바카라 게임 웹사이트
바카라 게임 웹사이트Users are finding creative ways to transcend language barriers, navigate cultural differences, and co-exist in fascinating ways,바카라 게임 웹사이트 she added. 바카라 게임 웹사이트This community building happening in real time could have lasting impact, and I바카라 게임 웹사이트m cautiously optimistic.바카라 게임 웹사이트
For a brief period in 2021, were also seen on the social media app Clubhouse, where Chinese and American users engaged in uncensored dialogue on sensitive topics in virtual chat rooms, before Chinese censors intervened to block the app.
How is Xiaohongshu different from TikTok?
Well, for starters, Xiaohongshu wasn바카라 게임 웹사이트t designed for English speakers, while TikTok isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t in China at all.
Xiaohongshu바카라 게임 웹사이트s name could be seen as a tongue-in-cheek reference to a red-covered book of quotations from the founding father of Communist China, Mao Zedong.
One of the app바카라 게임 웹사이트s key features is its content algorithm, which focuses on user interests rather than the people they follow. Some users say this fosters more original content and reduces the dominance of powerful influencers.
The company behind the app, Xingin Information Technology, was founded by Charlwin Mao and Miranda Qu and is headquartered in Shanghai.
TikTok is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance and was tailored for a global audience. TikTok is also not accessible in China, where a sister app, Douyin, serves the domestic market.
Are US TikTok users moving to apps other than Xiaohongshu?
Lemon8, a lifestyle community app also owned by ByteDance, is currently ranked as the second-most downloaded app on Apple바카라 게임 웹사이트s U.S. store.
Lemon8 has a similar video sharing function as TikTok. Modeled after Instagram and Pinterest, it was first launched in the U.S. in 2023.
It바카라 게임 웹사이트s unclear whether the looming ban on TikTok might also jeopardize Lemon8바카라 게임 웹사이트s operations in the U.S.
The U.S. law passed by Congress last year states that the divest-or-ban requirement will generally apply to all apps that are owned or operated by ByteDance, meaning that although Lemon8 was not explicitly mentioned in the statute, the ban may also extend to the platform.
CNN has reached out to ByteDance for comment.
