What is RedNote? Everything you need to know about the TikTok rival – as thousands flock to it amid impending US ban
With TikTok facing a ban in the US, thousands of American users are flocking to a little-known Chinese alternative called RedNote.
On Monday, the Chinese app, known locally as ‘Xiaohongshu’, became the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the US.
The name has been associated with the color of the Chinese Communist Party, although Chinese culture generally reveres the color as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
‘RedNote’ is also reminiscent of the Chinese tradition of giving and receiving red envelopes containing monetary gifts and good wishes.
On RedNote, some users have welcomed ‘TikTok refugees’ – TikTok users who are disembarking ahead of Sunday (January 19).
If TikTok’s owner doesn’t sell the platform to a non-“foreign adversary” by then, it will become illegal for U.S. internet services to support or distribute it.
But how does RedNote work? And is it really that different from TikTok?
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest social media rival.
RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, is a Chinese social media platform that combines elements of Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest
The Chinese app, a rival to TikTok, became the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the US on Monday.
WHAT IS REDNOTE?
RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, the Mandarin term for ‘little red book’, is a Chinese social media and e-commerce platform.
Launched in Shanghai in 2013, RedNote combines elements of Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, allowing users to share lifestyle content, product reviews and short videos.
RedNote also allows users to livestream video clips and offers integrated e-commerce features that allow people to shop directly within the app.
While TikTok focuses on short videos, RedNote also features images, reviews, and community discussions.
With more than 300 million monthly active users, it has become popular as an alternative to TikTok, amid concerns about a possible ban on the latter in the US.
During the pandemic, RedNote saw explosive growth among younger Chinese users — especially women — who now make up 79 percent of its 300 million active monthly users, according to New York Post.
Although the two apps look similar, RedNote is not a TikTok clone and the two are owned by different companies: Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology and Beijing-based ByteDance, respectively.
Similar to TikTok, RedNote users scroll vertically through feeds of short videos based on their interests
‘RedNote’ is associated with the color of the Chinese Communist Party, but Chinese culture reveres the color as a symbol of good luck. It is also reminiscent of the Chinese tradition of giving and receiving red envelopes containing monetary gifts and good wishes (archive photo)
RedNote was launched in 2013 – three years before TikTok – and has long been popular in China, but is now being discovered by Western audiences.
HOW DOES REDNOTE WORK?
Similar to TikTok, RedNote users scroll vertically through feeds of short videos based on their interests.
RedNote’s sign-up process is quite simple, although it does require some personal information, including your name, age, email address, and phone number.
When you enter your phone number when logging in, you’ll be asked to enter a verification code, although many Western users say they didn’t receive one.
Once you download the free app on your phone, you can log in with your mobile number or with your Apple or Google account.
From there, you choose your gender, age and interests, from travel to fitness, painting, pets, recipes, movies and video games.
Then you tap ‘start exploring’ and you’ll be taken to the home screen, which will show you a series of tailor-made videos based on your selections.
RedNote also allows users to livestream video clips and offers integrated e-commerce features that allow people to shop directly within the app
‘TikTok refugees’ is a trending term on social media, referring to the people jumping ship as a ban looms in the US
If you tap the red cross icon at the bottom, you can create and share your own posts, while you can reply to others’ posts.
Why do people join REDNOTE?
TikTok could be banned across the US on January 19, meaning users are looking for alternative apps with similar features.
A US law sets a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban on national security grounds.
A lawyer for TikTok, Noel Francisco, said it would be impossible to complete a sale of the short video app used by 170 million Americans by then, saying the site would quickly go dark and “essentially the platform would be closed’.
TikTok also claims the decision would violate freedom of expression for its millions of American users in the country.
WHAT IS THE VERDICT ON REDNOTE?
Nina, a new RedNote user from Texas, described the Chinese people as “so nice” and added, “I wouldn’t want to say goodbye to such a lovely community.”
Similar to TikTok, RedNote users scroll vertically through feeds of short videos based on their interests. RedNote’s sign-up process is quite simple, although it does require some personal information, including your name, age, email address, and phone number
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Americans are “helping the Chinese with their English homework,” according to an X (Twitter) user who posted a screenshot
Americans “find they have fun interactions with the millions of Chinese citizens,” this X user wrote
“After opening an account on RedNote, I discovered that it was very similar to TikTok and is one of the few Chinese apps available on the US App Store,” Nina shared. Global times.
Although RedNote’s primary language is Mandarin, US users are reportedly helped navigate the platform by its predominantly Eastern user base.
In turn, Americans are “helping the Chinese with their English homework,” according to an X (Twitter) user who posted a screenshot.
On X, other users shared their experiences, with one posting: ‘Existing [RedNote] users are super hospitable.’
One said Americans are “having great interactions with the millions of Chinese citizens on the app, inadvertently undoing decades of American propaganda.”
Another user posted a RedNote video in which a Chinese user addressed Americans, saying, “It’s so great to have you here,” adding, “It feels so special.”