RedNote talked to people who are using the Chinese app TikTokers
TikTok, Lemon8, and the US Supreme Court: A Little Red Book Embedded in a Little Chinese Social Media Platform
As TikTok anxiously awaits a Supreme Court decision that could determine whether it will be banned in the United States, users are preemptively fleeing the app and migrating to another Chinese social media platform called Xiaohongshu, which literally means “little red book” in Mandarin. Xiaohongshu was the most-downloaded app in the US App Store despite the fact that it didn’t have an official English name. The second app on the list is Lemon8, another social media app owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance that is also experiencing a traffic surge from exiled TikTok users.
All of the users of RedNote welcome TikTokers with open arms. Several RedNote users are eager to introduce the app while also sharing some tips and tricks on how to navigate it. One creator says, “now’s the perfect time to dive into Chinese culture” through RedNote with the Chinese New Year coming up, adding that users on the platform are “obsessed with Luigi, Trump, and Squid Game.” Some people want to teach their new community members how to speak Chinese.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Friday from the US government, which was in favor of a law that would cause TikTok to sell its US operations or be banned by January 19. The justices seem to think the law is constitutional and will likely allow it to stay, leaving many users with the feeling that the app’s days are numbered. While TikTok is unlikely to immediately disappear from people’s phones who have already downloaded it, it could be deleted from US app stores, causing many to panic and look for the next place to go.
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But many TikTokers are equally curious about RedNote users in China, too. “Chinese friends, post pictures of your meal or snacks for today! One user wrote that they were curious to see what they typically eat. One person asked, “I am American.” Do you like us? We are aware that you are not the enemy. Can we be friends?
The trend is actually kind of wholesome, and I’m here for it, but I’m not confident it will actually last. The apps could be banned if they grow in popularity. But the migration to RedNote is likely just a trend — and trends only last as long as it takes for another to replace it.