At least at the time of this writing, we're still awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the future of TikTok, but users of the app aren't waiting to find out what will happen.
Over the past few days, TikTok alternatives like Clapper, Flip, and TikTok's own Lemon8 have risen to the top of the app store charts. The most popular of them all, xiahongshuhas had the greatest impact on Over 700,000 new users,
The escape – which was both motivated by a ban attempt and done out of sheer malice – proves how futile the effort to protect Americans from “dangerous” apps, which took more than five years, really is. In fact, this effort has made things worse for those in power.
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The US government has repeatedly said that its main goal in banning TikTok has always been to protect US users from Chinese propaganda and protect their data.
I think it's fair to say that, it's no surprise that the government messed up. big time.
In a matter of days, Xiaohongshu – which means “Little Red Book” in English – has turned US-China relations upside down. The app was founded in 2013 and works like a Chinese version of Instagram. Not only are Americans consuming videos and images on an app that actively censors Tiananmen Square-related content and shows nothing when they search for “Xi Jinping,” but they are also storing their data for the app. Reluctantly agreeing to be tracked. All around, results contrary to what the US intelligence community wanted.
Many Americans are also offering advice on how to better integrate with Xiaohongshu's predominantly Chinese user base. a tiktok user posted a video New US users are being asked to “stop saying democracy” on the app this week. “If you are Taiwanese,” she said, “and you are on Xiaohongshu, you are now Chinese. Apologize.” I didn't find a single piece of criticism in his comments section. In fact, many users were thanking him for the tips.
If anything, the effort to ban TikTok has generated more interest among Americans in China than anything else. A large number of TikTok users have been observed learning Mandarin by chatting with Chinese Xiahongshu users or downloading language learning apps like Duolingo.
“Started learning from creators in Duolingo and at Red Note [or Xiaohongshu],” one TikTok user wrote to me. “Even added the Chinese keyboard option to my phone.”
“Downloaded Red Note and took my first Duolingo Chinese lesson this morning 🔥,” said another.
“Oh, so now you're learning Mandarin,” X account for Duolingo Posted on Tuesday Responding to the surge in interest.
Monica Earley, a Duolingo spokeswoman, told WIRED that there was a 216 percent increase in new Duolingo users signing up to learn Chinese. When someone signs up for a Duolingo account, they're asked to fill out a survey explaining how they found the app, and the company asks those who select “TikTok” as the reason for joining Duolingo. has seen a “concerning increase” in users.