TikTok Clone Surges in Popularity

Summary

• The looming US ban on TikTok has led to a significant surge in popularity for the Chinese social media app Rednote, positioning it as a potential replacement.
• Rednote combines features from Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, and is valued at $17 billion, with financial support from Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent.
• As TikTok faces potential shutdown, its content creators and users are migrating to Rednote, which has reached the top of the US App Store charts.

The potential ban of TikTok in the US has sparked a notable increase in the popularity of Rednote, a Chinese social media app, as users and content creators look for alternatives. Throughout 2024, TikTok has been embroiled in legal battles, culminating in a ban bill passed by the House of Representatives in March and subsequent lawsuits filed by the Department of Justice and 13 states in October. The underlying concern is the national security risk posed by TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing. Barring intervention by the Supreme Court, TikTok is set to be removed from Apple and Google app stores on January 19, 2025, with ByteDance indicating readiness to cease operations.

As the deadline for TikTok's potential disappearance approaches, US users and content creators are turning to Rednote, also known as Xiaohongshu (XHS) in China. Rednote, which initially focused on product reviews and retail experiences since its founding in 2013, has evolved into a platform for influencers, particularly in the beauty and health sectors. The app, which boasts a user base predominantly composed of women (over 70%), has a valuation of $17 billion as of July 2024 and is backed by Chinese tech giants Tencent and Alibaba.

Chinese Social Media App Rednote May Be First in Line for TikTok's Throne

Rednote's interface, blending elements of TikTok and Pinterest, has propelled it to the top of the US App Store charts, surpassing other popular apps such as Lemon8, ChatGPT, and Threads. By January 13, Rednote became the most downloaded app in the US, attracting a wave of TikTok creators looking to establish their presence on the platform. The surge in Rednote's popularity has even led to viral videos on TikTok and other platforms like Twitter and Instagram discussing its rise. Interestingly, Chinese users on Rednote have warmly welcomed the influx of American users.

Ironically, as TikTok faces a ban due to its Chinese ownership, its most likely successor, Rednote, is also a Chinese app. The sustainability of Rednote's sudden popularity will be tested in the coming days as TikTok's fate in the US becomes clearer. If TikTok is indeed removed from US app stores, Rednote could see an even greater influx of new users.