A TikTok Clone is Skyrocketing in Popularity

Summary

• The potential US ban of TikTok has propelled the Chinese social media app, Rednote, to unprecedented popularity as a potential replacement.
• Rednote, a hybrid of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, boasts a $17 billion valuation, backed by Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent.
• A mass migration of former TikTok creators and users to Rednote has catapulted it to the top of the US App Store charts.

Amidst the looming US shutdown of TikTok, a Chinese social media app, Rednote, is experiencing a meteoric rise. Following legal battles throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a Department of Justice lawsuit in October, TikTok's future in the US hangs precariously. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, its removal from app stores is slated for January 19, 2025, with the company itself suggesting a potential operational shutdown.

This uncertainty has driven US users and creators to seek alternatives, with Rednote emerging as a leading contender. Known as Xiaohongshu (XHS) in China, Rednote blends elements of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Initially launched in 2013 as a product review platform, it evolved into a significant hub for Chinese beauty and health influencers, boasting a user base where women comprise over 70%. Its $17 billion valuation (July 2024) is supported by investments from Tencent and Alibaba.

Rednote's Ascent to the Top of the US App Store

Rednote's design, incorporating features 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 itself going viral on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. Interestingly, Chinese Rednote users are welcoming this surge of American users.

The irony of TikTok's potential demise due to its Chinese ownership, only to be possibly replaced by another Chinese app, is not lost on many. Rednote's sustained popularity remains to be seen in the coming days, as TikTok's US fate becomes clearer. A complete removal from US app stores could trigger an even greater influx of users to Rednote.