Is RedNote actually a TikTok different? I attempted it to search out out

Abstract

RedNote, additionally known as Xiaohongshu, is a Chinese language social media app that’s much 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 customized expertise.
The app lacks English translations, has acquainted TikTok options, and will function a possible different 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, photographs, and textual content, in addition to store straight, all whereas utilizing an interest-based algorithm to serve up content material.

I first seen TikTok customers speaking about RedNote final weekend, and now it’s throughout my For You Web page. Curious concerning 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 somewhat digging to study extra about it. Right here’s all the pieces I’ve realized, so you may higher determine if it’s price changing into the most recent TikTok refugee to make the swap.

Rednote

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

Developer: Xingin
Subscription price: Free

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Tips on how to obtain and use RedNote

Get the TikTok different

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This is a fast step-by-step tutorial on learn how 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 brand and set up it.
Join: Open the app, faucet “Log In,” join (e.g., with Apple ID), and enter your gender and age.
Choose pursuits: Select matters you want, corresponding 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 extra to observe. It’s also possible to like, remark, and so on.
Discover the app: Navigate to House, Store, Messages, Profile, and Submit icons through the underside menu to see what else you are able to do.
Verify Settings: Entry your app settings below Profile for extra account choices and insurance policies (notice: some might 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 once you seek for it within the Apple App Retailer, the primary app that exhibits up isn’t in English. However I acknowledged the little purple brand, so I went forward and downloaded it. After I opened the app for the primary time, I bought 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.

Establishing 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 might 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 features.” I selected “Ask App To not Observe” since I hadn’t seen any Phrases and Situations 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 attempting out RedNote too. You possibly can see an example video here. Your entire video interface felt acquainted – I might swipe up like on TikTok to see extra quick movies, and there have been buttons for liking, commenting, sharing, and so forth.

Navigating the app

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I went again and seen a navigation bar with icons for House, Store, Messages, Profile, and an enormous purple “+” within the center for posting or going reside. 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 search out the Phrases and Situations I missed once I joined. This space had choices like Account Safety, Normal Settings, Content material Preferences, Teen Mode, and About. Within the About part, I discovered hyperlinks to the privateness coverage, neighborhood guidelines, and eventually, the T&Cs. However once I opened them, I used to be hit by a wall of non-English textual content. Tremendous useful.

…Truthfully, I bought 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. Loads of the movies in my feed had captions saying “TikTok refugee,” so I tapped on a number of, however actually, I bought bored fairly shortly.

Last ideas

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I am going to admit, I nonetheless want to make use of extra of RedNote, nevertheless it does vaguely really feel likeTikTok. A few of the options are acquainted, however the language limitations and lacking context makes it exhausting to completely make the swap.

A phone with TikTok on it with a cancel symbol

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FAQ

What does RedNote imply?

RedNote’s official identify in China is “Xiaohongshu.” Meaning “Little Red Book” in English. RedNote has change 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 Shanghai-based Xingyin Data 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 energetic customers, with 79% of them being girls, in keeping 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 know-how linked to “international adversaries.” These legal guidelines might limit its operations and even result in a possible ban of RedNote within the US.