While the approximately 170 million American TikTok users will soon see their social network disappear, a new Chinese application is emerging. Called RedNote, it already has many registrations.
Only a few days left before the end of TikTok in the United States. On January 19, 2025, the Supreme Court will give its final verdict, even if its answer already seems ready-made. The nine judges making up the highest legal body in the country are moving towards a total ban on the social network on American soil, a decision which has not failed to provoke a reaction from its users.
In order to compensate for this future lack, Americans have turned to a new social network, Xiaohongshu (called RedNote in English). Similar to TikTok, in just a few days it became the most downloaded free application in the Apple App Store. However, it is not necessarily advisable to connect to this Chinese network.
The end of TikTok in the United States
The days are numbered for TikTok in the United States. The famous Chinese application, owned by ByteDance, is planned to disappear from the country on January 19, 2025. A decision which follows a law adopted last year under Joe Bidenin order to guarantee the national security of the country. Because TikTok is a Chinese application, it is suspected of harvesting American users’ data for espionage and manipulation purposes.
Although its fate is at first glance completely sealed, TikTok can still escape its ban. Indeed, ByteDance can still save its social network by selling it to an American owner. Elon Musk, famous acolyte of Donald Trump recently appointed Minister of Government Efficiency, could be in discussions to acquire the platform, according to the latest rumors.
In the meantime, if no agreement is reached as is currently the case, TikTok will disappear from UNITED STATES. Despite the anger of its 170 million American users, a replacement seems to have already been appointed.
RedNote, the Chinese Instagram
Created in 2013, RedNote now has no less than 300 million users. Nicknamed the “Chinese Instagram”, the application allows you to share photos and videos, especially focused on travel, fashion and beauty.
Since Tuesday, the one that had become insignificant in the eyes of the whole world has become the first free application to be downloaded from the App Store. RedNote attracts several million newcomers, who describe themselves as “digital refugees” since the removal of TikTok, which they see as real censorship.
Like TikTok, RedNote benefits from a very advanced algorithm, allowing users to access content that meets their interests rather than popular videos/photos. If the Chinese social network attracts many Americans, nothing seems to predestine them to download it. Indeed, the English-speaking public is clearly not targeted, the application only containing Chinese characters. We will see in the coming days if RedNote will be translated into a foreign language.
Should you download RedNote?
Like TikTok, RedNote is of Chinese origin. While tensions between the Western world and China are getting stronger, the data of American and European users can be recovered by the application, for the purposes of espionage or manipulation. You are therefore advised to carefully read RedNote’s terms of use and privacy policy.
RedNote users have also reported that some content related to sensitive topics may be censored, such as LGBTQIA+ rights for example. An idea that confirms technopedia.com. As Chinese ideology is different from that of Westerners, certain cultural conflicts may arise. Several Chinese users have already complained about the influx of Americans to the network, accusing these newcomers of spreading their propaganda and influence.