What’s behind the surge in RedNote’s popularity?
As the US ban on TikTok looms, content creators are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media app, to start anew and, in some cases, flaunt their contempt for the US Government. The surge is also fueled by reports that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, might sell TikTok to X owner Elon Musk.
Despite its primary Chinese interface, RedNote has skyrocketed in popularity, becoming the top app on the Apple App Store and second on Google Play, behind only Lemon8, another ByteDance product. Currently, over 60,000 RedNote posts carry the hashtag #TikTokRefugee.
On Sunday, TikTok will go dark, marking the first time the US Government will ban a mainstream social media app. Instead of allowing users who have downloaded the app to continue using it, TikTok will redirect users to a website with information on the ban.
Questions remain about whether RedNote can amass TikTok’s 1.5 billion monthly active users and whether the US Government will put the TikTok alternative in its crosshairs.
Getting started with RedNote
The first thing new users will notice is that RedNote’s interface is a blend of Chinese and English. While many app screens are in Chinese, making navigation challenging for non-Chinese speakers, signing up is straightforward.
RedNote’s rise to popularity
The rapid rise of RedNote in the US might seem spontaneous, but according to experts like USC Professor of Communications Karen North, the trend is not as grassroots as social media would have us believe.
"I do not think that RedNote just emerged out of the blue," North told Decrypt. "I believe that RedNote is being promoted. TikTok is essentially astroturfing this campaign—it just doesn’t make sense as a protest against the US Government’s attack on TikTok because it’s Chinese."
What’s behind the surge in RedNote’s popularity?
The rapid rise of RedNote in the US might seem spontaneous, but according to experts like USC Professor of Communications Karen North, the trend is not as grassroots as social media would have us believe.
"I believe that RedNote is being promoted. TikTok is essentially astroturfing this campaign—it just doesn’t make sense as a protest against the US Government’s attack on TikTok because it’s Chinese," North said.
North is a clinical professor and founder of USC Annenberg’s Digital Social Media program. During the Clinton administration, she worked for the White House Office of Science and Technology.
Privacy and social media
North noted that people in the US are increasingly indifferent to personal privacy, often saying it doesn’t exist. However, she emphasized that privacy laws vary significantly by country; "It’s their country, their laws," she said, highlighting the contrast between privacy regulations in the United States and those abroad.
Despite this growing public apathy, governments worldwide have prohibited Chinese social media apps. In 2023, several countries, including the US, the EU, Canada, and Taiwan, prohibited using TikTok on government devices. Taiwan had already banned RedNote in 2022 over national security concerns.
Conclusion
The future of RedNote and its ability to attract a significant user base remains uncertain. As the US ban on TikTok looms, the app’s parent company, ByteDance, might sell TikTok to X owner Elon Musk, further solidifying RedNote’s position as a top alternative.
FAQs
Q: What is RedNote?
A: RedNote is a Chinese social media app that has gained popularity in the US following the impending ban on TikTok.
Q: Why is RedNote gaining popularity?
A: RedNote is gaining popularity due to its Chinese interface, which is appealing to those who are looking for an alternative to TikTok.
Q: Is RedNote a direct competitor to TikTok?
A: No, RedNote is not a direct competitor to TikTok. It is an alternative social media app that is gaining popularity in the US.
Q: Is RedNote available on both iOS and Android?
A: Yes, RedNote is available on both iOS and Android.
Q: What is the current user base of RedNote?
A: As of January 2025, RedNote boasts over 300 million active monthly users, mainly in China, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
