Chinese app RedNote surges in downloads as TikTok ban looms
As the potential ban on TikTok in the United States approaches, which could take effect as early as January 19, millions of users have turned their attention to the Chinese app RedNote, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
RedNote is a social platform focused on sharing images and short videos, boasting over 300 million monthly active users and an estimated valuation of $17 billion. Known in China as Xiaohongshu, the platform has been downloaded by over 700,000 Americans in the past week, propelling it to the top of the U.S. App Store's download charts.
For Americans seeking an alternative to TikTok, RedNote offers an appealing opportunity to preserve their online communities and continue their creative pursuits. However, the platform faces challenges in adapting to an international audience, including language barriers and a lack of advanced content moderation tools in English.
Nevertheless, the Chinese user community has been actively assisting newcomers in navigating the platform. In response, RedNote's developers have accelerated the implementation of translation technologies and enhanced content moderation tools to better accommodate English-speaking users.
Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported that Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is implementing significant changes to its content moderation policies in an effort to reduce censorship.
As previously reported, the U.S. ban for TikTok is scheduled for January 19.
