When RedNote Became America’s TikTok Backup Plan

Picture this: The U.S. TikTok ban loomed like a storm cloud, and millions of panicked users scrambled for a lifeline. Enter RedNote (known as Xiaohongshu in China), the Chinese app that skyrocketed to the top of the U.S. App Store. For a brief moment, it seemed like RedNote might dethrone TikTok. But then, Trump hit pause on the ban, and RedNote’s meteoric rise came crashing down. Here’s the wild story of how it all unfolded.

The Surge: RedNote’s 15 Minutes of Fame

As the TikTok ban deadline approached, U.S. users flocked to RedNote in droves. According to Sensor Tower, a staggering 700,000 users joined RedNote within just two days. By the day of the ban, RedNote had hit a jaw-dropping 32.5 million daily active users in the U.S. It was a cultural rebellion—a middle finger to lawmakers and Meta alike.

“You’re telling me the Chinese government has access to all of my personal data and what they chose to do with that information is psychologically manipulate me via algorithmic content into reading smutty books about fairies?”

— A viral TikTok sound referencing TikTok’s beloved “BookTok” community

The Crash: Trump’s Pause and the User Exodus

But just as RedNote was hitting its stride, Trump extended TikTok’s deadline by 75 days. The result? A 54% drop in RedNote’s daily active users by Monday, according to Similarweb. By the end of the week, RedNote’s U.S. user base had shrunk by 17% compared to the previous week. Ouch.

Why Did Users Ditch RedNote?

• Language Barrier: RedNote is primarily in Mandarin, forcing users to turn to Duolingo (which saw a 216% spike in U.S. usage). Spoiler: Learning Mandarin isn’t easy.
• Market Focus: Unlike TikTok, RedNote is tailored for the Chinese market. It lacks the global appeal that made TikTok a cultural phenomenon.
• TikTok’s Resilience: TikTok’s U.S. daily active users surged to a record 106.8 million on the day of the ban. Clearly, users weren’t ready to let go.

The Cultural Exchange That Almost Was

For a brief moment, RedNote became a bridge between U.S. and Chinese users. Conversations ranged from the cost of living to China’s social credit system and whether Americans really need two jobs to survive. Even Friends got dragged into the mix. But as TikTok’s future stabilized, these exchanges faded into the background.

The Takeaway: TikTok’s Dominance Is Unshakable

RedNote’s rise and fall is a testament to TikTok’s iron grip on the U.S. market. Users made it clear: They’d rather stick with TikTok than jump ship to another app—even if it meant sticking with a Chinese-owned platform. As one user put it, “If China wants to manipulate me into reading fairy smut, so be it.”

So, what’s next for RedNote? Unless TikTok faces another existential threat, RedNote’s U.S. moment is likely over. But for a few days in January 2025, it was the app that almost stole TikTok’s crown.