TikTok Ban Sparks Surge in Xiaohongshu's Popularity among U.S. Users

By Evans Momodu
4 minute digest 

As TikTok's future in the United States hangs in the balance, American social media users are flocking to a surprising alternative: Xiaohongshu, also known as "Little Red Book" or "RedNote" among its new U.S. audience.

This Chinese social media app, originally launched in 2013, has seen a meteoric rise in U.S. downloads. Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm, reported that downloads nearly tripled over the past week.

Within just two days, more than 700,000 new users joined Xiaohongshu, according to Reuters. The app even claimed the top spot on Apple’s U.S. App Store on Tuesday.

Xiaohongshu, often compared to Instagram, is a platform for sharing lifestyle content, including travel, fashion, and makeup tips. While it has amassed a loyal following of 300 million users in China, it had previously struggled to gain traction beyond Chinese-speaking regions. That changed as TikTok faces the threat of a U.S. ban.

On Xiaohongshu, the hashtag “TikTok refugee” has garnered nearly 250 million views and over 5.5 million comments. Many American users express defiance against the looming TikTok ban.

One user, Heather Roberts, shared a video with over 45,000 likes, saying, “Our government is out of their minds if they think we’re going to stand for this TikTok ban. We’re just going to a new Chinese app, and here we are.”

Another user described Xiaohongshu as superior to TikTok, humorously apologising for the influx of Americans: “Sorry you’ll hate us, but I promise we’ll do our best.”

The move highlights American users’ frustration with Washington’s national security concerns over Chinese-owned platforms like TikTok. It also underscores the resilience of global digital communities, with users quickly migrating to alternatives when their preferred platforms are threatened.

For Xiaohongshu, this sudden popularity represents an unprecedented opportunity to expand its global footprint. However, it also raises questions about whether the app could face similar scrutiny from U.S. regulators in the future.

As the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates TikTok's fate, the rise of Xiaohongshu reflects the adaptability of digital users and the complex dynamics of global tech and geopolitics.
Source: CNN