A TikTok Clone is Skyrocketing in Popularity
- By Brooklyn
- Mar 05,2025
Summary
- Rednote, a Chinese social media app, is experiencing a surge in popularity in the US, potentially replacing TikTok if the latter is banned.
- Blending features of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Rednote boasts a $17 billion valuation, backed by Alibaba and Tencent.
- A mass migration of former TikTok creators and users to Rednote has propelled it to the top of the US App Store charts.
The potential US ban of TikTok has created a vacuum, rapidly filled by the Chinese social media platform, Rednote. Following legal battles throughout 2024, including a House-passed ban bill in March and a Department of Justice lawsuit in October, TikTok faces removal from US app stores on January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court intervenes. This looming ban has driven US users and creators to seek alternatives, with Rednote emerging as a leading contender.
Initially launched in 2013 as a product review and retail platform, Rednote (Xiaohongshu or XHS in China) evolved into a significant influencer hub, particularly popular among women (over 70% of its user base), focusing on beauty and lifestyle content. Its $17 billion valuation (July 2024) is supported by investments from Tencent and Alibaba.
Rednote's design, incorporating elements 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 ascent is itself generating viral content across various platforms, including TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. Interestingly, existing Chinese Rednote users are actively welcoming this new wave of American users.
The irony of TikTok's potential demise due to its Chinese ownership, only to be replaced by another Chinese app, is not lost on observers. Rednote's sustained popularity beyond the immediate aftermath of the potential TikTok ban remains to be seen. However, a complete TikTok removal from US app stores could significantly boost Rednote's user base even further.
