Everyone’s Downloading a New Chinese Social Media App Before the TikTok Ban

The U.S. government said “Don’t give a Chinese company your data,” and the American public said “🖕 😎 🖕.” As the country prepares for the TikTok ban to go into effect January 19, Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (translation: “little red book,” more colloquially known as Red Note) has become the most downloaded app in the Apple Store. Videos recommending TikTok users migrate to Red Note began popping up over the weekend, with many saying they are making the move purely out of spite.

Red Note’s user base has been very welcoming of what are being called “TikTok refugees” and helping them navigate the app. Developers are also working on making Xiohongshu more English language-friendly. So fear not, you and your personal Chinese spy will be reunited very soon.