Chinese social app RedNote becomes top download in US as TikTok ban looms

As the US Supreme Court considers upholding a ban on TikTok, millions of American users are migrating to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social app known internationally as RedNote. Launched in 2013 as a shopping-focused platform, RedNote now boasts over 300 million monthly active users, 80% of whom are women. The app offers a mix of images, short videos, and text posts in feeds labeled "Follow," "Explore," and "Nearby," resembling Pinterest. On January 13, it became the most downloaded free app on the US App Store. According to Bloomberg, Xiaohongshu surpassed $1 billion in profits last year, riding a wave of downloads in China after the pandemic. The migration is driven by user frustration with Meta's platforms—Instagram, Facebook—and X/Twitter, which many accuse of censorship and alignment with right-wing politics. TikTok's algorithm, which rewards positive interactions and direct dialogue, has made it a key agora for young generations to organize protests and boycotts, a freedom increasingly restricted elsewhere. The formal reason for the ban is data security, but users see it as an attempt to control information. The ban is set to take effect on January 19, though it may be delayed or revoked. Rumors that Elon Musk might buy TikTok's US operations have been dismissed by ByteDance as "pure fiction."