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 potential imminent shutdown. Following legal challenges throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a Department of Justice lawsuit in October, TikTok's future in the US hangs in the balance. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, it will be removed from app stores starting January 19, 2025, with the company itself stating readiness for a US shutdown.

This looming ban has fueled a mass exodus to alternative platforms, with Rednote (known as Xiaohongshu or XHS in China) emerging as a leading contender. Often described as a blend of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote initially 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 wave of TikTok creators establishing new presences. Videos documenting Rednote's rise are going viral across platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. Interestingly, Chinese Rednote users are welcoming this influx of American users.

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, after TikTok's fate is determined, remains to be seen. A complete US removal of TikTok from app stores could significantly increase Rednote's user base.