WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 13: Attendees hold signs in support of TikTok outside the US Capitol … [+]
A social media app called RedNote is emerging as a major contender to dethrone TikTok. This is an interesting development as it looks increasingly likely that the federal government will impose a ban starting January 19 on anyone associated with the short-form video app.
The only problem? RedNote has the same problems as TikTok. For starters, it’s also owned by a Chinese company, and there seems to be even less guarantee that the data collected in the app won’t be used to coerce or influence us.
The app is so new to many of us that it’s called Red Note (with space) and RedNote (without space). The company itself calls the app REDnote. To make matters even more confusing, app stores in the United States use the Chinese name Xiaohongshu. The app also doesn’t have the sheen of a TikTok clone, unlike the typical app you might build if you’re a Silicon Valley startup.
Ironically, with these barriers to entry, RedNote is the number one download in the app stores right now and is skyrocketing in popularity with those frustrated by TikTok’s impending ban. I keep seeing posts about people switching to RedNote like TikTok has become a graveyard.
The truth is, there could be a last-minute decision to save TikTok (say, President-elect Trump trying to deny the ban), and rumors are swirling that everyone from Elon Musk to Mr. Beast are interested in buying it, minus the algorithm.
Installing and Using RedNote
Once you understand how to install and use RedNote, you will find that it is very similar to TikTok with some notable differences. One is that you have to choose your interests immediately. I’ve always liked how TikTok doesn’t force you to do that and you can just see whatever’s trending and let the algorithm guide you to fresh content. I remember testing TikTok years ago and stopping to watch a few videos about music production and then loving how the app kept feeding me more.
The default interface on RedNote, unlike TikTok, is to display video thumbnails for browsing. You must click on the Trending feed to start scrolling.
I also didn’t like how RedNote got lost on my phone. I don’t bother swiping to see apps anymore, but I always search and type the name. RedNote uses its Chinese name, so I had to search for it and put it on my home screen. Not a big deal, but also not exactly a smooth or intuitive experience.
RedNote and data security
I’ll admit that the idea of adding another app to my phone, handing over my phone number, and agreeing to the terms made me feel a little queasy. I know nothing about the parent company Xingin and have no idea how they plan to use my data. I wonder how many other users will wonder if this is a good idea.
It’s also important to note that the content just isn’t that good right now. At the time I was introduced to the app, I saw several comedy videos, including one that made fun of the fact that English-speaking users were flocking to the app. I mostly saw videos mentioning TikTok or welcoming new users to the new app.
My guess is that people are making a statement that maybe they just don’t care about the data collection issue and are specifically choosing a Chinese app as an act of defiance. There’s a kind of rebellion from those who think it’s heavy handed to ban a beloved and widely used app. They are not happy.
Interestingly, they may be causing their own problem. As people switch from TikTok to RedNote, they’re unknowingly putting the app on the radar of government officials. Users also seem to be making a statement that they don’t want to switch to Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for their short videos. They want freedom of choice. I’m just not sure if RedNote is the best option – especially if it doesn’t last as long in the app stores and suffers the same decline as TikTok.
