Chinese App 'Red Note' Hits #1 in App Store As US TikTok Ban Approaches
The app is one of many alternatives sought by “Tiktok refugees” ahead of the January 19 ban.
As the US braces for the forthcoming TikTok ban set to take effect on January 19, users have sought alternative platforms to migrate to. Amid the uncertainty, a Chinese app called Red Note has unexpectedly emerged as a formidable replacement, reaching the number one spot on Apple‘s App Store charts for iPhone today.
While competitors like Lemon8 have had a Western presence for some time nowm Red Note (known as Xiaohongshu in China) is largely unheard of by most Americans. In a similar vein to TikTok and other platforms, which are increasingly multi-media, Red Note offers a digital space to share photos, short videos, and text posts. Through “follow,” “explore,” and “nearby” feeds users can view content from their networks, while also engaging with their local community and discovering global trends.
According to CNBC, Red Note was founded in Shanghai in 2013 and has slowly risen as a competitor to ByteDance‘s TikTok. CNBC reported that as of July 2024, the app had 300 million monthly active users as of July 2024 and that the app was valued at $17 billion following a recent round of funding.
It’s worth noting that trailing behind Red Note is a lineup of other alternatives also serving as safe havens for “TikTok refugees.” As mentioned earlier, Lemon8 takes the number two spot, followed by California-based startup Flip at number 4. In line with the legislation cemented by US Congress in 2024, distributors like the Apple Store and Google Play will be harshly penalized if they continue to host TikTok. As of the time of writing, the US government has no plans to halt the ban.
Stay tuned to Hypebeast for updates on the forthcoming TikTok ban and other social media news.
