As a potential TikTok ban looms in the United States, young Americans are turning to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, dubbing themselves “TikTok refugees” in search of a comparable experience.
In recent days, Xiaohongshu has climbed to the top of the iOS and Google Play store charts in the U.S., as users brace for TikTok’s potential ban over national security concerns.
The ban, set to take effect unless TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership, has also propelled another ByteDance-owned app, Lemon8, to the second spot among most downloaded apps.
Often described as China’s answer to Instagram, Xiaohongshu allows users to share photos, videos, and text, and is particularly popular among women. While the platform boasts approximately 300 million monthly active users, its reach remains smaller compared to Chinese giants like Sina Weibo and WeChat, which have over 1.2 billion users each.
The surge in new users—many referring to Xiaohongshu as “RedNote”—has flooded the app’s “Discover” page with posts and videos. These newcomers seek tips on navigating the platform and making the most of its features, highlighting the app’s growing appeal among displaced TikTok users.
