American Tiktok users migrated towards a Chinese Tiktok alternative called RedNote in preparation for the Tiktok ban. RedNote topped the App Store as the Tiktok ban was fast approaching. American Tiktok users pushed back against the ban by downloading the Chinese alternative, RedNote. Americans did this in protest, as well as to make sure they had an alternative app to use once the ban went into effect.

RedNote is a social media platform owned by Xingyin Information Technology. The app includes images, short videos, community building tools, shopping, and more. RedNote has been available in English, but some users reported that it became more accessible for American users as its popularity grew. Many Americans jumped to this app as a way to protest the Tiktok ban, while others downloaded it as an alternative app to use in preparation of the ban.

Ella James (12) says she didn’t join RedNote when the Tiktok ban was approaching. James states, “I’m just going to use other platforms, a lot of things on RedNote are in Chinese, making it difficult to understand.” On the other hand, Sara Elsanjak (12) downloaded the app as soon as she learned about the ban. “It was the first thing I did,” Elsanjak stated. She said that she learned about RedNote from Tiktok a few days before the ban. “It was the most popular alternative I saw,” Elsanjak said.

There are also a lot of opinions on RedNote topping the Appstore. James states that she thinks the app’s popularity is funny since Tiktok was about to get banned and Rednote was very similar. Elsanjak said that she thought it was almost ironic since Tiktok was getting banned for an invasion of privacy, and RedNote most likely does very similar things to Tiktok in relation to privacy.

Many users went to RedNote as an alternative to Tiktok, but it has also been questioned whether RedNote can get banned just like Tiktok did since it is also a Chinese owned platform. Americans worry that its Chinese ownership will get it taken away in the United States just like Tiktok.