It’s the end of an era, besties. TikTok, our beloved source of serotonin, snack hacks, and questionable couple trends, could be shutting down in less than a week. Thanks to national security concerns (and probably some lingering resentment over how addicting it is), TikTok is being forced to sell its U.S. operations or face exile from the App Store and Google Play. That’s right, the app that turned random teenagers into millionaires and single-handedly fueled my social media addiction is facing a serious ban in the U.S.
But don’t cancel your screen time alerts just yet — there’s a new app in town: RedNote. This Chinese app is already topping the Apple app charts, and people on TikTok are telling their followers to meet them there, so should we all be downloading RedNote to fill the void in our scrolling hearts?
What’s Happening With TikTok?
@alicenmadness Red note and the TikTok ban. . . #tiktokban #rednote #whatisrednote #socialmediaapps ♬ original sound – Al!ce
The drama started when President Joe Biden signed a law banning TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells its U.S. operations. The reasoning? Concerns over how the app handles user data. ByteDance is trying to fight the ban in court, but as of now, the Supreme Court seems likely to let it happen.
If the ban kicks in on Jan. 19, TikTok won’t disappear immediately, but it will no longer be available for download. Over time, it’ll become a ghost town of outdated trends and unsupported features. So, unless ByteDance pulls off a Hail Mary, it looks like your TikTok days are numbered.
What Is RedNote?
@annapaigemorgan We petty and I love it, see you on rednote #rednote #tiktokban ♬ original sound – Kristen
Enter RedNote, aka Xiaohongshu (literally “Little Red Book” in Chinese). Think of it as the love child of Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. Launched in 2013, this app has been a hit in China, with a valuation of over $17 billion. While it’s known for its aesthetics and short-form content, RedNote is now emerging as a viable TikTok alternative in the U.S.
Its focus on curated, scrollable content makes it feel familiar yet fresh. Whether you’re looking for outfit inspo, skincare tips, or quick-hit entertainment, RedNote might just be your new go-to. Plus, it’s already trending as the top social networking app on iPhones.
As someone with 23 different saved collections and hundreds of videos saved under each of them, I don’t know if I’m quite ready to jump the TikTok ship yet, but hey, let me know how RedNote works out for you.
