Many Australians may not be familiar with RedNote or its lesser-known competitor, Lemon8. However, this is likely to change as the possibility of a US TikTok shutdown looms, prompting influencers and users to flock to alternative apps to rebuild their audiences from the ground up. The US Supreme Court is expected to uphold a law on January 19 that would require TikTok to either divest its US operations or face a ban due to national security concerns. This legislation, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversaries Controlled Applications Act, will take effect just before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
In the meantime, two Chinese social media apps, RedNote and Lemon8, have surged to the top of the Apple iPhone download charts in the US as users seek alternatives to TikTok ahead of a potential ban. Trump has vowed to protect TikTok, and incoming US national security adviser Mike Waltz recently indicated that the federal law allowing for a ban also permits an extension if a viable deal is in progress.
Despite speculation that the Chinese government may want Elon Musk to acquire TikTok, the app’s parent company has consistently stated it will not sell, a sentiment echoed by a source familiar with the company’s stance. As TikTok users and influencers brace for the app’s potential shutdown in the US, it is anticipated that the app will be removed from Google and Apple’s app stores, with users receiving a notification that the service is no longer available in the country.
Amid this uncertainty, rival apps are gaining traction. The term “TikTok refugee” is gaining popularity on RedNote, a Chinese social media platform known in Mandarin as Xiaohongshu, or Little Red Book, likely referencing the book of quotes by Mao Zedong. Founded in 2013, RedNote is often compared to Instagram and has around 300 million monthly active users. Currently, it ranks as the top app in the US, having already amassed millions of downloads. Owned by Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology, RedNote caters primarily to Mandarin speakers and does not offer an English language option.
Some Australian brands are already leveraging RedNote to target Chinese-speaking women and youth, including Penfolds, Sydney Airport, and Medibank, as well as institutions like the University of Wollongong. Additionally, over a dozen Australian politicians, such as Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, and Victorian Labor MP Carina Garland, are active on the platform. Lemon8 currently holds the position of the second-most popular app in the US.
