What is RedNote? TikTok replacement gaining popularity on App Store

WITH a potential TikTok ban looming in the US, Americans have scrambled to find a new alternative to the popular app.

The Chinese-owned app RedNote has unexpectedly seen a huge migration of US social media users flock to it - here's everything we know about it.

What is RedNote?

The app, called Xiaohongshu in Chinese, works in a similar way to TikTok.

Users are able to post short-form videos and live-stream to other people.

RedNote features similar content to what can be found on TikTok, such as product reviews, comedy, and influencer content.

This increasingly popular app has even been likened to Pinterest because of it's focus on e-commerce.

The app was launched in 2013 and it's popularity in China has skyrocketed in that time.

Why are people downloading RedNote?

This Chinese-owned social media app rose to the top of Apple's App Store on January 13, 2025 becoming the most downloaded item in the country.

RedNote has been seen as an alternate platform for TikTok users to migrate to if the hugely popular app is banned.

Its content is mostly in Chinese because of the app's parent company.

Despite this, Americans have still taken to the application as the site's interface is changing and becoming more friendly to English speakers.

Is TikTok getting banned?

TikTok could be banned in the US unless it's Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance sells the app.

Around 170 million people in the US use TikTok, which is roughly half of the country's population.

Lawmakers passed the potential TikTok ban through congress in 2024, citing apparent national security concerns.

Officials shared concerns about the Chinese government potentially using the app to spy on Americans.

TikTok has denied any security concern allegations but Joe Biden signed the measure into law in April 2024.

The government has said ByteDance has until January 19, 2025, to sell the app to an approved buyer or it will face the ban.

For this law to not go into effect, the Supreme Court must intervene.

What will happen if the TikTok ban goes into effect?

App stores could be forced to stop letting new users download the app and stop updating TikTok.

Huge mobile phone companies like Apple and Google could be banned from helping TikTok keep running.

Therefore, the app will be left to die out rather than pulling the plug altogether.