Image: Apple
RedNote app: Fast facts
- RedNote has climbed to the top of the Apple App Store as TikTok users in the United States look for alternative platforms.
- Like TikTok, RedNote is owned by a Chinese company, raising the same privacy and data concerns that led to TikTok's potential ban.
- While RedNote is not dangerous, users concerned about their data privacy should be cautious about downloading the app.
With TikTok's potential ban on the horizon, millions of users are looking for an alternative. Some have settled on RedNote, a Chinese social media and shopping app that has quickly become the number one social networking app on the App Store. Yielding TikTok's algorithm, power users calling themselves "TikTok Refugees" have sparked a massive digital migration to yet another Chinese social media app. In fact, our survey found that 1 in 10 former TikTok users switched to RedNote instead of American sites like Facebook or Instagram Reels.
RedNote—also called Xiaohongshu—offers short-form videos, but it's not an exact clone of TikTok. It's closer to Instagram and has become a favorite of younger users within China. With the U.S. government flagging data privacy and national security concerns in its TikTok ban, users may want to be cautious when turning to RedNote. Not only will the app collect personal data—as all social media companies do—but as a Chinese-owned app it may soon face the same regulatory hurdles currently facing TikTok.
What is RedNote?
RedNote is a Chinese social media app that offers features similar to TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and even options for online shopping. It thrives on short-form videos, photo sharing, and lifestyle posts. It's one of the most popular social media apps in China with 300 million monthly active users.
In the wake of the potential TikTok ban on January 19, many American users are preemptively fleeing the platform. RedNote has become one of the top destinations for these users.
Is RedNote safe?
RedNote is probably safe, but you shouldn't download it if you want to keep your personal data secure. All social media companies—including American ones like Facebook and X—collect your personal data. However, since RedNote is owned and operated out of China, privacy experts are concerned about who can access your information and what they can do with it.
It's worth noting that RedNote is available directly to Chinese users, meaning its content and privacy regulations come from the Chinese government. Remember, TikTok itself is not available in China. The Chinese version of TikTok is called Douyin and it is walled off from the platform available in the United States. With this app, all users are on the same platform.
The TikTok user migration is already raising concerns with regulators. If the TikTok ban is allowed to stand, RedNote might become the next target, meaning users will once again have to find an alternative.
Other TikTok alternatives
There are alternatives if you're fleeing TikTok but wary of RedNote. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are two of the most popular options that won't be facing a ban any time soon.
If you feel safe using Chinese-owned apps, but discover that RedNote doesn't meet your needs, Lemon8 is another potential option. The app is owned by ByteDance, the maker of TikTok. That said, as we explained with RedNote, there's no guarantee it won't face a future ban.
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Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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