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With TikTok Ban Imminent, 170 Million U.S. Users Flock to RedNote Before Sunday's Deadline

Jan 15, 2025, 10:30 PM

With a potential U.S. ban of TikTok looming, American users are scrambling to find alternative social media platforms. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this week on whether to uphold a law requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its Chinese ownership or face a nationwide ban set to take effect on Sunday, Jan. 19. TikTok, which has over 170 million U.S. users, may become unavailable unless the Court intervenes. In anticipation of the ban, Chinese apps Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote in English, and Lemon8 have surged in popularity, topping app store download charts. RedNote has become the most downloaded social networking app in the Apple App Store over the last 24 hours, with over 700,000 new accounts created in just two days, as users flock to the platform seeking a replacement for TikTok. Other apps like Fanbase and Twitch are also gaining attention. American users joining RedNote have found themselves building new connections across international borders, while the influx has prompted reactions from Chinese users on the platform. However, some users have expressed concerns over data loss and different content policies on these alternative platforms. The potential ban could impact TikTok's 170 million U.S. users and numerous businesses and nonprofits that rely on the app for marketing and fundraising. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has vaguely pledged to "save" TikTok, adding uncertainty to the app's future.