The dreaded day is upon us: TikTok looks likely to be banned in the US this week, after its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, chose not to sell the app to an American operator. While rumours of a potential ban have been swirling for months, this week, there's been a notable shift on our FYPs, as the ban changes from looming possibility to imminent.
But, never fear: there's more viral dances and iconic memes to come, with many American TikTokers making the move to a new app. Below, everything you need to know about RedNote.
What is RedNote?
RedNote is a social media app that straddles the domain of TikTok and Instagram, allowing users to share short-form videos, photos, shopping picks, and build a community.
The irony, however, is that RedNote is a Chinese-owned platform. Founded in Shanghai in 2013, the app reportedly has around 300 million monthly users, and is valued at $17 billion.
ICYMI, the whole reason the US government wants TikTok banned is because of its ties to China which, they say, pose a threat to national security. In other words, TikTok users are protesting the potential ban, by migrating to another Chinese social media platform.
"We ain't gong back to Instagram, Facebook; we on that RedNote, baby!" @allieusyaps told his 200k followers.
@allieusyaps WE ARE ALL MIGRATING TO REDNOTE‼️ #greenscreen #rednote #rednoteapp ♬ original sound - allieusyaps
"I've been on RedNote for maybe 30 minutes and I've started learning Mandarin," another user said in a video that's garnered nearly 3 million views.
@dr3thepharaoh I love it here #fyp #foryoupage #rednote #tiktokban #fypシ ♬ Relaxed (Slowed) - MC Mablo Dos Paredões
So, is RedNote the new TikTok?
While it's undoubtedly popular in China, it's too soon to tell whether RedNote has the legs to generate the same following as TikTok currently has amongst the Western world. It's also too soon to know if the TikTok ban will actually eventuate: as it stands, the social media giant will cease operating in the US by January 19, unless the Supreme Court blocks the law mandating the sale of the app by ByteDance.
Alternatives to RedNote as the next TikTok are Instagram reels, though many have expressed hesitation at posting the kind of lo-fi content that performs well on TikTok to their more curated Instagram grid. Some others have similar hesitations about moving to X (formerly Twitter). The platform is shrouded in controversy after new owner Elon Musk became a staunch supporter of President elect Donald Trump – and more recently advocated for an increase to H-1B visas, a policy that much of the Trump support base oppose.
Feature image via Pinterest.
