A Chinese-owned app is gradually gaining popularity among American social media users and content creators after a swarm of US users recently flocked to it for its durability.

With the threat of a looming TikTok ban , US users have started a mass exodus to a Chinese app, RedNote, also known as ‘Xiaohongshu’ in China.

The app, which is now the most downloaded on the US App Store, is drawing attention from users who call themselves ‘TikTok refugees.’

One of these users, Regal Gemini, posted a tutorial video to orient newcomers to Chinese users on RedNote, using hashtags like #RedNote and #Xiaohongshu.

Another user, Alexander Quaresma, expressed his excitement, saying, “RedNote Xiaohongshu is my favorite app of all time. Thank you, USA, for making me a TikTok refugee. I never would have found gold like this otherwise.”

RedNote, founded in 2013 in Shanghai, has gained traction as a competitor to TikTok, offering a platform to share photos, short videos, and text posts. Users can interact with content from their networks or explore global trends through feeds like “follow,” “explore,” and “nearby.”

With 300 million active monthly users as of July 2024 and a valuation of $17 billion, RedNote is quickly growing in popularity.

The mass migration comes as the US government considers a TikTok ban. The Supreme Court heard arguments on January 12 regarding the potential ban, with justices seeming inclined to allow the US government to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell or shutter the app. If the ban goes into effect on January 19, new users would be unable to download TikTok, though existing users could still access the app until it becomes unusable due to a lack of support services.

With RedNote’s rise, users are flocking to the platform as a potential alternative, driven by concerns over the future of TikTok in the US. As the situation develops, RedNote’s popularity is expected to grow, signaling a shift in the social media landscape.