Is RedNote actually a TikTok various? I attempted it to seek out out

Abstract

RedNote, additionally referred to as Xiaohongshu, is a Chinese language social media app that’s just like TikTok however with Instagram and Pinterest-like options.
When utilizing RedNote, customers can watch movies, like, remark, and store on the app, and set their pursuits for a personalised expertise.
The app lacks English translations, has acquainted TikTok options, and should function a possible various relying on consumer preferences.

With a attainable TikTok ban looming within the US, many are questioning, “The place are all of us going to subsequent?” For some, the reply is RedNote, often called Xiaohongshu in China. It is an app that appears lots like TikTok however provides Instagram and Pinterest-like options into the combination. It helps you to share movies, images, and textual content, in addition to store instantly, all whereas utilizing an interest-based algorithm to serve up content material.

I first observed TikTok customers speaking about RedNote final weekend, and now it’s throughout my For You Web page. Curious in regards to the hype and whether or not it’s a legit TikTok alternative, I made a decision to obtain the app and expertise it for myself. I additionally did a little bit digging to study extra about it. Right here’s all the pieces I’ve discovered, so you’ll be able to higher resolve if it’s price changing into the most recent TikTok refugee to make the change.

Rednote

RedNote, often called Xiaohongshu in China, is a Chinese language-language social media app.

Developer: Xingin
Subscription price: Free

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Easy methods to obtain and use RedNote

Get the TikTok various

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This is a fast step-by-step tutorial on easy methods to get began with RedNote, however I give extra particulars on what it was like for me later on this information.

Obtain: Seek for “RedNote” in your most well-liked app retailer. Search for the app’s purple emblem and set up it.
Join: Open the app, faucet “Log In,” enroll (e.g., with Apple ID), and enter your gender and age.
Choose pursuits: Select matters you want, similar to magnificence or vogue.
Permit/decline monitoring: Resolve if the app can monitor your exercise throughout different apps.
Browse movies: The Discover web page helps you to choose a video after which swipe by way of extra to observe. You can even like, remark, and many others.
Discover the app: Navigate to House, Store, Messages, Profile, and Publish icons by way of the underside menu to see what else you are able to do.
Examine Settings: Entry your app settings below Profile for extra account choices and insurance policies (observe: some will not be in English).

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My preliminary RedNote expertise

Discovering and downloading RedNote

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The bizarre factor about RedNote is that if you seek for it within the Apple App Retailer, the primary app that reveals up isn’t in English. However I acknowledged the little purple emblem, so I went forward and downloaded it. After I opened the app for the primary time, I obtained a login display. I tapped “Log In” and signed up utilizing my Apple ID. Then, I picked my gender (the one choices have been Male or Feminine) and entered my age.

Organising my account

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After that, I used to be taken to a display to pick out my pursuits, so I picked magnificence, vogue, humorous, and some others. Subsequent, the app requested if it may monitor my exercise throughout different apps and web sites. It stated this was for “recommending content material, security and danger management, and optimizing show and capabilities.” I selected “Ask App To not Monitor” since I hadn’t seen any Phrases and Circumstances but and didn’t really feel nice about it.

Watching movies

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I then landed on a web page that had a bunch of video tiles. I tapped on one, and it was an American speaking about being a “TikTok refugee” who’s making an attempt out RedNote too. You’ll be able to see an example video here. Your entire video interface felt acquainted – I may swipe up like on TikTok to see extra brief movies, and there have been buttons for liking, commenting, sharing, and so forth.

Navigating the app

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I went again and observed a navigation bar with icons for House, Store, Messages, Profile, and a giant purple “+” within the center for posting or going stay. I checked out the Store first, however all the pieces was in one other language, together with the descriptions and costs, so I left. Subsequent, I checked out Messages, nevertheless it was empty since I had simply joined. From there, I went to my Profile, which I nonetheless wanted to arrange. I didn’t have a profile image or bio, and it confirmed I had zero followers, likes, or “collects.” Once more, numerous the textual content wasn’t in English.

Checking settings

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I discovered a Settings cog on my profile, so I clicked on it to seek out the Phrases and Circumstances I missed after I joined. This space had choices like Account Safety, Common Settings, Content material Preferences, Teen Mode, and About. Within the About part, I discovered hyperlinks to the privateness coverage, group guidelines, and eventually, the T&Cs. However after I opened them, I used to be hit by a wall of non-English textual content. Tremendous useful.

…Actually, I obtained bored fairly shortly.

I gave up on that and went again to the House tab, which has three screens: Observe, Discover, and Close by. Discover appears probably the most like TikTok’s For You Web page. Numerous the movies in my feed had captions saying “TikTok refugee,” so I tapped on a number of, however actually, I obtained bored fairly shortly.

Closing ideas

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I will admit, I nonetheless want to make use of extra of RedNote, nevertheless it does vaguely really feel likeTikTok. Among the options are acquainted, however the language boundaries and lacking context makes it onerous to totally make the change.

A phone with TikTok on it with a cancel symbol

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FAQ

What does RedNote imply?

RedNote’s official title in China is “Xiaohongshu.” Which means “Little Red Book” in English. RedNote has develop into the go-to shortened nickname amongst English audio system — particularly within the US, the place the app is climbing the charts as individuals seek for TikTok options.

Who created RedNote?

Entrepreneurs Charlwin Mao and Miranda Qu launched RedNote in 2013 by way of Shanghai-based Xingyin Info Know-how. Reuters reported that, as of January 2024, the platform has a valuation of over $17 billion.

What number of customers are on RedNote?

RedNote has greater than 300 million month-to-month lively customers, with 79% of them being girls, in accordance with TechCrunch.

Can RedNote be banned like TikTok?

Sure, “TikTok refugees” could also be flocking to RedNote for its TikTok-like options, however the app’s future within the US stays unsure. Though it is not owned by ByteDance, RedNote nonetheless operates as a Chinese language-developed app, which locations it below the scrutiny of US legal guidelines focusing on expertise linked to “international adversaries.” These legal guidelines may prohibit its operations and even result in a possible ban of RedNote within the US.