All you need to know about TikTok’s US ban and RedNote

TikTok, the beloved social media giant that has reshaped global culture since its 2016 debut, is on the brink of being banned in the United States. On 19 January 2025, a law signed by President Joe Biden will take effect, mandating TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its US operations or face a nationwide shutdown. The platform, which boasts 170 million US users, may be forced to “go dark” if a legal challenge from ByteDance fails. As the deadline approaches, many TikTok creators, dubbed “TikTok refugees,” are already migrating to alternative platforms.

So where’s everyone headed to now?

The most popular of these is RedNote (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese app that saw a surge in popularity in early 2025. The app, which blends lifestyle, social networking, and e-commerce features, offers a similar experience to TikTok. According to The Straits Times, the climbed to the top of the US Apple App Store, attracting more than 700,000 new users in just a few days. Despite its appeal, RedNote is not without its own concerns, as it stores user data in China, in compliance with Chinese data protection laws. This raises questions about privacy and censorship, especially as American users flock to the platform in protest of the TikTok ban.

This migration underscores the growing digital Cold War between the US and China. While RedNote offers a potential refuge for displaced TikTok users, its ties to the Chinese government highlight the paradox of seeking freedom on a platform that may impose its own forms of control. For many, RedNote offers a similar content style and algorithm to TikTok, making it an attractive option. However, the app is still relatively new to American users, with only a fraction of TikTok’s 170 million US users making the switch.

Another ByteDance-owned alternative, Lemon8, has also gained traction, though it too could face scrutiny from the US government if the TikTok ban goes through. Unlike RedNote, which stores data in China, Lemon8 stores data in locations like the US and Singapore, which may offer some reassurance to users concerned about privacy. Still, both platforms remain subject to the geopolitical tensions that led to the TikTok ban in the first place.

The potential future of social media

For creators, the uncertainty around TikTok’s future means they are scrambling to adapt to a fragmented digital landscape. While platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are options, many creators feel these services lack the community and creator-friendly environment that made TikTok so popular.

This exodus from TikTok is not just a technological shift but a broader cultural movement, as seen in the interactions between American and Chinese users on RedNote. Chinese users have warmly embraced TikTok refugees, sharing tutorials and offering support in a spirit of digital diplomacy. This solidarity is part of a broader narrative, with some Chinese internet users even framing the migration as a “Western awakening movement,” encouraging Americans to broaden their digital horizons beyond Western-dominated platforms.

As the debate over TikTok’s future continues, the larger question remains: how can countries balance national security concerns with the right to connect, create, and express in a rapidly fragmenting global tech ecosystem? The US government’s decision will set a crucial precedent, not just for TikTok, but for the future of global digital governance.