When the threat of a TikTok ban loomed over millions of U.S. users last week, many turned to RedNote — a less popular Chinese app known as Xiaohongshu.
For some users who made this transition, RedNote was a practical backup for the impending absence of TikTok. But for others, downloading RedNote became less about practicality and more of an act of defiance against what they saw as government overreach.
“I thought it was hilarious, honestly, that our generation decided to use social media as the platform to be petty against the government,” Alexis Whitman said.
The 21-year-old decided not to make the transition to RedNote because of security concerns, but appreciated what the mass movement toward the app represented.
“I just didn’t necessarily think it was the smartest idea, because I have a dad in data security,” she said. “He is knowledgeable about some stuff that RedNote has been accused of in other countries, and some of its downfalls.”
Whitman also noted that she, along with many others in her generation, viewed the government’s reasoning for banning TikTok with skepticism, which continues to feed the movement toward RedNote.
“I think our generation is deciding as a collective, we’re not stupid,” she said. “Just because the government says their reason for banning TikTok is because TikTok is feeding our data and information to China, we all know that that’s not really what it’s about. It’s about not having control over the narrative.”
Morgan Ummels, also 21, admitted that part of her reason for joining RedNote “had to do with a bit of a bandwagon.” In addition, it allowed her to stay connected with her favorite content creators. “I was able to follow a lot of my creators that I like a lot on TikTok on RedNote with basically the same content, as opposed to Instagram.”
For large content creators who founded their platforms on TikTok, the stakes of a ban were far higher considering the app actively served as a career path.
Ahmaree Carwise, a TikTok creator by the handle @IcyMahree who has over 1.4 million followers, downloaded RedNote briefly but quickly realized it would not become a viable alternative for his content-creating needs.
“I tried it, but it wasn’t for me,” Carwise said. “I feel like there will never be another TikTok. It’s just a one and only.”
Carwise explained that while he appreciated the opportunity to gain an international audience for his platform, he did not believe RedNote would succeed in maintaining the United States audience.
“It didn’t feel like the place where we were going to go and just be there permanently,” he said. “It kind of felt like just a retaliation thing, and it was just that.”
Things changed after President Donald Trump issued an executive order delaying the TikTok ban for 75 days. “As soon as TikTok came back,” Carwise said, “everybody was like, ‘Oh, I deleted that RedNote app so quick,’ and I was like, ‘Well, I deleted it before y’all did!’”
Serenity Owens is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
