As a potential TikTok ban looms in the U.S., young Americans are turning to Xiaohongshu (also known as “RedNote”), a Chinese social media platform, for a similar experience, News24 reports. The app has surged to the top of U.S. app store charts, followed by Lemon8, another Chinese app owned by ByteDance. Known as “China’s Instagram,” Xiaohongshu has a female-heavy user base and focuses on shopping and live-stream e-commerce. While Chinese users have largely welcomed the influx of Americans, they remind them to follow strict platform rules, including avoiding sensitive topics like politics and adhering to China’s content guidelines. Experts believe the cultural and monetization differences, such as Xiaohongshu’s shopping-centric model, may make it difficult for TikTok creators to fully transition. The trend underscores the growing competition from Chinese tech platforms and highlights the stagnation of U.S. apps in attracting younger users.
Poll Question: What do you think about the rise of Xiaohongshu (“RedNote”) among young Americans as TikTok faces a possible ban?
