While TikTok is preparing for a possible blocking in the United States on January 19, another Chinese app is rapidly gaining popularity among American users, TechCrunch reports. Xiaohongshu, known in the English-speaking world as RedNote and often referred to as the "Chinese Instagram clone," has risen to the top of the free app rankings in the US App Store. It also tops the list of the most downloaded apps in the Social Networking category on the iPhone.
The sudden spike in downloads is mainly due to the fact that content creators on TikTok are actively recommending Xiaohongshu as an alternative in case TikTok is blocked in the United States. Some influencers are already urging their followers to switch to this platform to ensure their social media presence in case they lose access to TikTok. TikTok itself has previously recommended that users switch to another Chinese app, Lemon8.
Xiaohongshu, which was launched in 2013, combines elements of Pinterest and Instagram, offering a visually oriented interface and social shopping features. The app gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among young people in China. It currently has more than 300 million monthly active users, almost 80% of whom are women.
Despite its growing popularity, Xiaohongshu's Chinese origins may attract the attention of regulators in the United States, especially given the current geopolitical situation. US lawmakers and officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about the influence of Chinese tech companies and the possible risks to data privacy and national security.
Xiaohongshu mainly operates in the Chinese market and has not yet demonstrated any intention to significantly expand its presence in the United States. This lack of transparency about its activities could lead to conflicts with U.S. regulators if the app continues to grow in popularity among Americans.
Interestingly, American TikTok users do not recommend using apps from TikTok's biggest competitor in the US, Meta. The tech giant, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, is experiencing scandals of its own. Recently, Meta announced changes to its content moderation policy, including the termination of cooperation with independent fact-checkers in the United States. This decision raised concerns about the spread of disinformation and hate speech on the company's platforms.