Xiaohongshu Gains Support as Americans Opt Out of the TikTok Ban

As Xiaohongshu led the download numbers, US TikTok users moved to the Chinese app in protest of a possible ban.

Due to the growing threat of a TikTok ban in the US, a large number of American users are switching to the Chinese social networking site Xiaohongshu, which has caused the app to rise to the top of the US App Store’s download charts.

As a symbolic protest against the possible ban, these so-called “TikTok refugees” are swarming to Xiaohongshu. Legislation requiring TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent firm, ByteDance, by January 19 or risk a nationwide ban due to national security concerns is anticipated to be decided by the US Supreme Court. 

The number of Xiaohongshu accounts has significantly increased as a result of signs that the Court may enforce this rule; users are posting under hashtags such as #tiktokrefugee or #tiktok. The software quickly rose to the top of the US software Store’s free app download list since the start of the week.

Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” is a Chinese social media site that combines social networking, short-form video content, and e-commerce. The app has accumulated 300 million active monthly users, particularly among younger Chinese demographics and in regions with sizable Chinese populations, such Taiwan and Malaysia. Young women use it most frequently, and it’s a great place to find advice on beauty tips, restaurants, trip locations, and items.

Several US users have shared videos introducing themselves and asking for help navigating the network, which they have named “RedNote.” The hashtag #tiktokrefugee has already amassed over 160,000 entries on Xiaohongshu.

Many Chinese users on Xiaohongshu have greeted these American “refugees,” providing language instruction and guidance on navigating the Chinese internet, which frequently censors politically sensitive information. 

Xiaohongshu may not be able to completely replace TikTok, even with the surge of new users. Due to its lack of translation capabilities and primary focus on Chinese consumers, the program is not yet designed for a global user base. Furthermore, Xiaohongshu has not yet established a solid e-commerce and advertising ecosystem as TikTok does.