A TikTok Clone is Skyrocketing in Popularity

Summary

• With TikTok facing a potential US ban, the Chinese social media app Rednote is experiencing a surge in popularity as a potential replacement.
• Combining elements of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote boasts a $17 billion valuation, backed by Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent.
• Former TikTok creators and users are migrating to Rednote, propelling it to the top of the US App Store charts.

A new social media app, Rednote, is rapidly gaining popularity as US users and content creators seek alternatives to TikTok, which faces a potential imminent ban. Following legal challenges throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a lawsuit from the Department of Justice and 13 states in October, TikTok's future in the US is uncertain. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the app will be removed from app stores starting January 19, 2025, with the company itself acknowledging potential shutdown.

This looming ban has spurred a search for alternatives, with Rednote (known as Xiaohongshu or XHS in China) emerging as a leading contender. Described as a blend of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote, founded in 2013, initially focused on product reviews before evolving into a platform for influencers, particularly popular among women (over 70% of its user base). Valued at $17 billion (July 2024), it enjoys backing from Tencent and Alibaba.

Chinese Social Media App Rednote May Be First in Line for TikTok's Throne

Rednote's design, incorporating elements similar to TikTok and Pinterest, has propelled it to the top of the US App Store charts, surpassing apps like Lemon8, ChatGPT, and Threads. As of January 13th, it's the most downloaded app in the US, attracting a significant influx of TikTok creators. The app's rapid rise is even generating viral content on TikTok and other platforms like Twitter and Instagram, with Chinese users on Rednote welcoming their new American counterparts.

The irony of TikTok's potential demise due to its Chinese ownership, only to be potentially replaced by another Chinese app, is not lost on observers. Rednote's sustained popularity in the coming days, following the resolution of TikTok's fate, will be key. A complete removal of TikTok from US app stores could further accelerate Rednote's user growth.