A TikTok Clone is Skyrocketing in Popularity

Summary

• With TikTok facing a potential US ban, the Chinese social media app Rednote is experiencing a surge in popularity as a potential replacement.
• Combining elements of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote boasts a $17 billion valuation, backed by tech giants Alibaba and Tencent.
• Former TikTok creators and users are migrating to Rednote, propelling it to the top of the US App Store charts.

A new social media app, Rednote, is rapidly gaining popularity as US users and content creators seek alternatives to TikTok, which faces a potential imminent ban. Following legal battles throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a lawsuit from the Department of Justice and 13 states in October, TikTok's future in the US is uncertain. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, it's slated for removal from app stores starting January 19, 2025, with the company itself suggesting it's prepared for a US shutdown.

This looming ban has driven users to seek alternatives, and Rednote (known as Xiaohongshu or XHS in China) has emerged as a leading contender. Described as a blend of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote launched in 2013 as a product review platform before evolving into a hub for Chinese beauty and health influencers. Boasting a user base where women comprise over 70%, it holds a $17 billion valuation (July 2024), backed by Tencent and Alibaba.

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

Rednote's design, incorporating elements similar to TikTok and Pinterest, has propelled it to the top of the US App Store charts, surpassing apps like Lemon8, ChatGPT, and Threads. As of January 13th, it's the most downloaded app in the US, attracting a significant influx of TikTok creators. Videos documenting Rednote's rise are already trending across platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, with Chinese users on the app even welcoming their new American counterparts.

The irony of TikTok's potential demise due to its Chinese ownership, only to be potentially replaced by another Chinese app, is not lost on many. Rednote's sustained popularity in the coming days, following TikTok's fate, will be crucial. A complete US removal of TikTok could lead to an even greater surge in Rednote's user base.