RedNote, a Chinese app known locally as Xiaohongshu, has risen to the top of the U.S. App Store as TikTok users explore alternatives ahead of a potential January 19 ban. Valued at $17 billion after a recent secondary share sale, RedNote blends social media and e-commerce, capturing attention with features distinct from TikTok’s video-centric model.

Source: App Store

The app’s surge in downloads comes as TikTok faces removal from U.S. app stores unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its U.S. operations. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in TikTok’s lawsuit challenging the law, passed by Congress and signed by outgoing President Joe Biden in April 2024.

RedNote’s Rise: A Blend of Social Media and E-Commerce

Unlike TikTok, RedNote combines short-form video content with elements akin to Instagram and Pinterest. Users share product reviews, lifestyle content, and experiences, with the app enabling direct purchases through its platform.

The company reportedly boasts 300 million monthly active users, 79% being women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, RedNote experienced notable growth among younger Chinese users, and its profits exceeded $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

TikTok’s Regulatory Challenges Drive Migration

The platform’s rise occurs amid complex regulatory circumstances. While TikTok faces scrutiny over national security concerns related to Chinese ownership, RedNote, despite a similar ownership structure, has not faced comparable regulatory pressure. 

President-elect Donald Trump has filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the TikTok ban and requesting a delay until after his inauguration. If implemented, the TikTok ban would initially prevent new downloads and updates, eventually leading to the app’s cessation of function. 

TikTok’s lawyer, Noel Francisco, indicated to the Supreme Court that the app might cease operations on January 19 to comply with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Users Take on Government’s National Security Concerns

The migration to RedNote has attracted attention for its potential cultural implications.

Source: @abby4thepeople

“Lmao at thousands of people downloading Rednote (the version of TikTok that is actually owned by China) to spite the U.S. government, finding themselves having lovely interactions with the millions of Chinese citizens on the app & inadvertently undoing decades of U.S. propaganda,” X user @abby4thepeople wrote as a caption for the above image.

Other users commented on her thread, with top replies carrying a similar sentiment, “Chinese people are ok. The government is not. Russia? Same.” and “You are a moron if you needed to download an app to realize Chinese people are just normal people.”