TikTok Creators Migrate to RedNote as U.S. Ban Looms

With TikTok facing a potential shutdown in the United States, content creators are seeking alternatives—and many are turning to another Chinese app, RedNote, to continue their digital journey.

RedNote, the English version of the Chinese app Xiaohongshu, rocketed to the top of the Apple App Store downloads on Monday. Known for its visually appealing Instagram-meets-Pinterest design, the platform has become a safe haven for creators preparing for the uncertainty surrounding TikTok.

Influencer Jen Hamilton, with a follower base of 3.9 million on TikTok, humorously announced her move to RedNote. “Oh, you don’t want the Chinese to have our very sensitive personal data?” she quipped in a video, addressing the controversy over data security.

The shift comes as a U.S. law passed last year takes effect this Sunday. The legislation requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to either sell the platform or face a nationwide ban. Proponents argue the law is essential for national security, claiming TikTok allows Beijing to spy on users and spread propaganda—allegations both ByteDance and the Chinese government vehemently deny. Critics, however, see the move as a threat to free speech.

Despite the looming ban, users like Hamilton are unfazed. “It is impossible how little I care that the Chinese (have) my data,” she joked, referencing a viral story about a user who changed their username to their social security number to “help spies get promoted faster.”

Hamilton encouraged her fellow “TikTok refugees” to join her on RedNote, even as the app’s Mandarin-dominated interface presents a new challenge for many Americans.

TikTok’s massive U.S. user base—an estimated 170 million—is watching closely as the countdown to the ban continues. Meanwhile, RedNote seems poised to capitalize on the turbulence, offering a new stage for creators in search of a digital home.