Ready to move on from TikTok? Due to the US government’s concerns about national security, a TikTok ban was signed by Joe Biden. The Supreme Court upheld the ban after TikTok filed a lawsuit. Before the ban officially went into effect on 25 January 2015, millions of users and consumers were looking for a substitute. Putting forward the RedNote app, the same as Xiaohongshu, a relatively new but present social media and e-commerce site.
On the 19th, ByteDance announced the temporary shutdown of TikTok operations across the United States. On the 20th, the President, Donald Trump, was sworn in and quickly announced the ban’s reversal in question. TikTok is now back in the US. But before the TikTok ban, there was already a huge influx of American users to RedNote.
RedNote (Xiaohongshu) was founded in 2013 and enables users to share lifestyle information and products. Users can post photos and videos, share stories, and review products. It also has shopping facilities. TikTok’s presence in the U.S. is still up in the air. This post will provide an in-depth overview of the RedNote features and security aspects. Let’s learn why it is becoming the new favorite platform for those who have left TikTok.
What is the RedNote (Xiaohongshu) app?
RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu or “Little Red Book,” originated in China, and is an active social networking site. Founded by Miranda Qu and Charlwin Mao in 2013, it first started as an online lifestyle-sharing and shopping guide for Chinese consumers. It provided platforms for customers to share and discuss life experiences.
It has morphed into a complex service where customers can find, discuss, and buy, with countless articles and products on beauty, fashion, travel, food, etc. Thus, the primary use of Xiaohongshu is to establish an open platform. It integrates the interaction between people with the online shopping experience. A “grass-planting” note is shared by users about some products or services that can be attractive to others as a recommendation or feedback.
This integration has placed Xiaohongshu as a credible source of lifestyle ideas and where to shop for such products. Firstly, the most part of the platform audience was female and as of April 2021, it was up to 90%. In 2022, with the attempts and updates, the number of male users also rose, leading to 30% of the male participation in the community.
Key features of Xiaohongshu app
- Content sharing: Users can upload pictures, videos and textual material to report on personal experiences, opinions of particular goods and services and lifestyle recommendations for extensive communities of interest.
- E-commerce integration: Shopping elements are incorporated within the social network so that users can directly buy products suggested within the app, boosting the social commerce experience.
- Live streaming: A feature promoted on Xiaohongshu is live streaming, where the influencer/brand presents products in real-time, affording customers engaging and time-sensitive purchasing opportunities.
- Search and discovery functionality: As a result of focusing on lifestyle themes, the application’s functionality allows finding articles and products matching a user’s interests with approximately 600 million daily search inquiries in Q4 2024. With its excellent content preference algorithm, users are free to randomly browse the content they like on the discovery page.
- Community interaction: It actively promotes interaction opportunities between users, creating a kind of crowdsourcing community based on similar objectives and issues.
Content without boundaries, community without limits, safety with ease.
How RedNote works?
As a popular social commerce app, it unites people based on their interests rather than friends’ lists. Its content discovery algorithm creates your feed based on your interests and activity, thus providing you with posts that can genuinely affect you.
Free to download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App store. It has a very simple registration process. Whereby you only enter your mobile phone number and numbers from any area are welcome.
After registration, users can create a profile admitting to making changes to suit their preferences and personalities. This is a unique approach to making your experience unique and one that will be more interesting to you.
As for the main language of the platform, it is Chinese since the huge number of users in China requires such an approach. Users also have three language options for the basic settings and page appearance. Currently, the app has an online real-time translation function to undertake a large amount of overseas user traffic.
The site is easy to navigate anyway because of the simplicity of the layout and abundance of illustrations. In addition, with the increasing number of international users, content is available in multiple languages, expanding the targeted audience.
Xiaohongshu also provides users with the option to sign up for various kinds of accounts depending on the user’s needs. The Professional Account provides for greater customization such as the precise advertising and the e-shop feature. Many companies engage the Enterprise Professional Account because it permits the full exploitation of the platform for marketing.
Is RedNote like TikTok and why US users flock to it?
Before the shutdown of TikTok in the U.S., many are turning to RedNote. This is a Chinese site resembling Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, where users can share content rather distinctly. Many users mock themselves as TikTok ‘refugees.’
Similarities:
Similarly to TikTok, RedNote is the platform where you can make and publish unique and short clips about fashion, beauty, food, traveling and many others. The site relies on uploaded content shared and valued by users and goes viral and is thus well-known to anyone who spent time on TikTok and appreciated the platform’s dynamics.
Differences:
In one way, they are very similar, but RedNote has a better focus on the more subtle product comparisons and an online store feature. Consumers discuss their extensive experiences with the products enabling other users to make the right purchase decisions. Instead of tracking individuals’ engagement with the influencers, the platform has an algorithm that prioritizes users’ interests.
In the same manner, TikTok’s main content stream is in English. At the same time, RedNote focuses more on content in Mandarin, which may make it difficult for those who do not understand the Chinese language to access the information provided on the website.
Reasons why:
- Community: The app fosters a unique sense of community and connection. The RedNote app allows users to share their interests with others and ‘belong’ to collecting culture, which differs from TikTok’s short-form videos.
- Content variety: Another advantage of the platform is various types of content posted, from life tips to travel diaries, thus making the experience less repetitive and more diverse regarding the user’s interest.
- The “Feel” of the Chinese app: Another reason is that the unique Chinese social media atmosphere and humanistic care on RedNote are very different from that on overseas social media platforms. Those Chinese netizens have warmly welcomed these cyber immigrants, which makes RedNote quickly gain a good reputation among overseas users. Many people are always looking for something out of the ordinary.
- A “Statement” to the U.S. Government: For some, moving to RedNote is a way to silently resist the decision of the US government to ban TikTok and remain active on social networks on their own.
Is the RedNote app safe to use?
Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has been picking up recently and has a user base, particularly those looking for an app like TikTok, amongst other similar apps. However, there are several factors to bear in mind before you start to check if this really is the option for you or your children.
Data Privacy
Officially, the RedNote app collects necessary user data such as personal details, device information, and usage patterns to personalize content and ads but without selling or utilizing it.
Chinese data privacy laws require apps to store data locally. For national security reasons, U.S. authorities believe the government of the People’s Republic of China may have access to this data.
On the other hand, while RedNote uses encryption to protect data, users still need to be cautious about sharing sensitive private information. Privacy settings allow users to control who can see their content and manage advertising preferences, but full privacy control remains limited. Please check the privacy policy often and be mindful of what you share on the platform.
Community guidelines and content moderation
It is not a boring and repetitive carousel of influencers’ posts. On the contrary, Popularity focuses on its users. However, it has to be stressed that Xiaohongshu is based in China and follows all the regulations. This means that toxic topics and content involving violence, pornography, drugs, and others will be strictly prohibited or closely watched. Meanwhile, the influx of global users has also increased the pressure on the content review team.
Is it safe for children?
A user has the option of “going Teen Mode” to reduce the time spent using the app and have content that would be suitable for teenage use. Nonetheless, it has been discovered that underaged individuals can get around these limitations, and the mode may have insufficient materials appropriate for young persons.
For increased parental control of your kid’s screen activities, it should be recommended to use more special applications such as FlashGet Kids, a powerful parental control tool. It is designed to help you monitor and manage your child’s online activities effectively. It provides features like screen time limits, content filters and real-time activity tracking, giving you peace of mind while your child navigates digital spaces.
All in all, Xiaohongshu is an interactive application targeting communities’ needs and showing promising results. At the same time, one must consider data privacy issues, analyze the effects of their decision-making on content moderation and evaluate the safety measures for younger audiences.
Lemon8 vs RedNote: What is the Lemon8 app?
Lemon8 is ByteDance’s lifestyle community application which is similar to TikTok in terms of company ownership. Active since 2020, it covers materials, mainly beauty, fashion, traveling, and food, and tries to bring together people with the same hobbies. It provides a set of tools for editing that can help users make and post photos and videos at the same time.
Lemon8 brings out content in a For You Feed, which means that it suits your interests and makes the experience of browsing easier.
How is Lemon8 different from RedNote and TikTok?
Even though Lemon8, RedNote, and TikTok offer content sharing for users, they operate with completely different target audiences and develop specific attitudes among members. Lemon8 and RedNote contain more lifestyle articles, and Lemon8 is more universal in covering more countries, while the RedNote app has a greater engagement with users who speak Mandarin.
On the other hand, TikTok is famous for short video clips under different categories and genres that can suit a specific age group. The interfaces of these apps reflect their unique focuses: Lemon8 raises social media with shopping experiences, wherein users are able to search and access products within the app, whereas RedNote focuses on videos and sharing content with friends.
Final Thoughts
RedNote or Xiaohongshu, offers an exciting blend of social networking and e-commerce which makes it an appealing alternative for those seeking a fresh platform. Its unique community-driven approach, personalized content curation and focus on product reviews provide a dynamic environment for exploring lifestyle inspiration.
The platform’s diverse content and features can lead to a rewarding experience. Whether you’re looking for beauty tips, travel diaries or in-depth product reviews, the vibrant community fosters creativity and discovery. Parents, however, should be mindful of their children’s interactions on the app. As you explore platforms like the RedNote app, ensuring a safe online experience for younger users is crucial.
FAQs
Referring to the surveys and ban that the TikTok app has endured, we have no way of knowing the future of these two platforms at this time. However, we believe that their development teams can better deal with security challenges and queries. These applications are becoming increasingly popular as TikTok replacements.
As a result of the TikTok ban in America, a movement known as the “TikTok Refugee” is forming. People are leaving TikTok for other similar social media platforms like RedNote and Lemon8. They‘re looking for a place to share content, discover new trends, and connect with like-minded individuals.
All you have to do to begin using RedNote (Xiaohongshu) while abroad is to download the app from the app store on your device. The platform supports foreign phone numbers, so you may register with yours after installation. Although the app’s primary language is Mandarin Chinese, its user-friendly design and translation tool make it easy to navigate.
