Big Disappointment For TikTok Users In US As ByteDance Prepares To Shutdown App. China’s RedNote Sees ‘Boom’ On Its Platform Welcoming TikTok Users

The countdown has begun, and it’s not the kind of countdown TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users wanted. ByteDance, the parent company of the wildly popular video-sharing app, seems ready to pull the plug by Sunday, leaving creators, fans, and meme enthusiasts reeling.

After months of speculation and fleeting hopes of a last-minute rescue (hello, Musk rumors!), TikTok’s fate appears sealed. This isn’t just an app; for many, it’s a livelihood, a creative outlet, and, dare we say, a way of life. But with the January 19 deadline looming, it seems like the curtains are finally coming down.

From Dreams to Frustration

TikTok users have gone through the full spectrum of emotions: denial, hope, and now, anger. The U.S. government’s concerns over national security risks due to ByteDance’s ties to China have led to this impending shutdown. ByteDance has consistently denied sharing—or even being willing to share—U.S. user data with the Chinese government. But the offer stuck, and now, the app is facing the axe.

Creators have been vocal, with many calling for boycotts of rival platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), which stand to benefit from TikTok’s exit. “Delete your Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts the same day,” urged one angry TikToker. The frustration is palpable as advertisers gear up to shift their budgets to Meta and Musk’s platforms, leaving creators feeling like pawns in a larger game.

A Constitutional Tug-of-War

TikTok and ByteDance have fought back, arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. While legal wrangling continues, it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will swoop in to save the day. If no miracle happens, come Sunday, anyone trying to open TikTok will be greeted with a pop-up message directing them to a shutdown information page.

The situation has even caught the attention of President-elect Donald Trump, who, according to reports, is considering issuing an executive order to “save TikTok.” Whether such an order could actually circumvent the ban remains unclear, and time is running out.

However, questions about the legality and timing of such a move remain unanswered. Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, expressed optimism, calling TikTok a “fantastic platform” and hinting at a plan to preserve the app while protecting user data.

Meanwhile, the outgoing administration, led by President Joe Biden, has made it clear they won’t intervene in TikTok’s fate during their final days. A White House official emphasized that ByteDance’s failure to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets leaves little room for maneuvering.

If the Supreme Court upholds the ban, TikTok’s U.S. operations will grind to a halt, leaving users with an app that can’t be updated or maintained. While existing downloads might still function for a while, the lack of support from U.S.-based service providers could render the app unusable sooner rather than later.

The implications extend far beyond America’s borders. ByteDance warned in a recent court filing that the ban could disrupt TikTok services globally, as many of the app’s critical operations rely on U.S.-based providers. Data centers, for instance, may no longer store TikTok code or content, making it difficult for the app to function seamlessly even in other countries.

ByteDance’s Balancing Act

Behind the scenes, ByteDance is walking a fine line. Shutting down TikTok’s U.S. operations protects its service providers from legal fallout while keeping the door open for a potential comeback if the ban is overturned. Insiders say the company is prepared to restore services relatively quickly if the political winds shift in their favor.

Privately owned ByteDance, backed by major institutional investors like BlackRock and General Atlantic, employs over 7,000 people in the United States. However, with the January 19 deadline looming, the company’s efforts to delay the law’s implementation have largely fallen on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, in the Rest of the World…

As Americans brace for TikTok withdrawal, some international users are, well, less sympathetic. “Say goodbye to the Americans,” quipped New Zealand content creator Luke Hopewell, gleeful at the prospect of fewer U.S.-centric trends clogging his algorithm.

And then there’s China’s own RedNote, a platform seeing a surge in interest from TikTok creators looking for a new home. While U.S. creators scramble to figure out what’s next, RedNote is rolling out the red carpet.

RedNote’s Unexpected Rise

As TikTok faces an uncertain future in the United States, many of its users have flocked to a surprising new platform—RedNote. The Chinese social media app, known as Xiaohongshu in China, has suddenly found itself at the center of attention, with over half a million TikTok users joining in protest against the looming ban. But what exactly is RedNote, and why is it gaining traction?

What is RedNote?

RedNote, or Xiaohongshu, is often seen as a localized version of Instagram in China, where users document their lives, share recommendations, and explore lifestyle content. From beauty and fashion to travel and food, RedNote covers it all, making it a popular app, especially among young, female users in China.

Its interface is unique compared to TikTok or Instagram, displaying multiple posts—be it videos, photos, or longer-form texts—simultaneously. This format fosters more in-depth discussions, interactions, and content sharing. Recently, the app has also embraced livestreaming sales, tapping into the growing trend of social commerce.

A Platform in Transition

Historically, RedNote has been the go-to app for Chinese users seeking recommendations and trends. It’s seen as an alternative search engine for everything from product suggestions to travel tips. However, with the recent influx of TikTok users, the app is transforming in unexpected ways.

Chinese state media has hailed this as a positive development, calling it a new avenue for U.S.-China cultural exchange. Beijing, for its part, has expressed support for fostering stronger cultural ties and promoting mutual understanding among people worldwide.

For TikTok users migrating to RedNote, it’s been a place to swap stories, share photos, and engage in discussions about everything from pets to favorite foods. Despite the enthusiasm, there’s also been some resistance, with a few users grumbling about the influx and nationalist bloggers warning against the influence of American users on the platform.

RedNote was founded in 2013 by Miranda Qu and Charlwin Mao, originally as “Hong Kong Shopping Guide,” catering to Chinese tourists seeking recommendations abroad. Over the years, the platform evolved into what it is today: a massive lifestyle hub with over 300 million monthly active users by 2023.

Now, with the TikTok migration, RedNote is looking at the possibility of going global, with executives scrambling to adjust to the new influx of English-speaking users. They’re working on building English-Chinese translation tools and moderating English-language content to make the platform more accessible to a broader audience.

RedNote’s Financial Backing

The app has also caught the attention of major investors. RedNote’s shareholders include Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent, as well as global venture capital firms like GSR Ventures, DST Global, and GGV Capital. With such backing, RedNote is positioning itself as a potential IPO candidate in the future. Its co-founders, Mao and Qu, have amassed significant wealth, with Mao’s fortune sitting at a cool $2.5 billion and Qu’s at $1.7 billion, according to China’s Hurun rich list.

Despite its rapid growth, RedNote has faced challenges in handling the influx of foreign users. The app, which is primarily in Mandarin, has not been designed with international audiences in mind. Unlike Tencent’s WeChat or ByteDance’s Douyin, RedNote has not split its operations into domestic and international versions. This lack of localization is causing headaches for the platform as it scrambles to moderate content and build translation tools for its new English-speaking users.

Interestingly, some foreign users have already begun testing the platform’s limits, posting about sensitive topics like the Tiananmen Square crackdown, which are known to be heavily censored in China. This raises questions about how much freedom of expression users can expect on a platform that operates within China’s tight regulatory framework.

Beijing’s Double Standards

While China has long maintained tight control over its internet space through the “Great Firewall,” it has also been actively promoting RedNote’s international growth. This raises a certain level of irony—while China blocks foreign social media platforms like Instagram and X, it encourages its own platforms to expand globally. The government’s stance on the matter is clear: it supports cultural exchange, but only on its own terms.

For users outside China, this presents a dilemma. As RedNote becomes a more prominent player in the social media space, it may offer an alternative to platforms like TikTok, but it comes with the inherent risks of censorship and surveillance that come with using a Chinese-based app.

The Last Bit
As TikTok users in the U.S. face the possibility of losing access to their beloved app, RedNote has found itself in the right place at the right time. Whether it can maintain this momentum and transition into a truly global platform remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, as Sunday approaches, TikTok users in the U.S. are bracing for the end of an era. While the app may vanish from American screens, its global influence is unlikely to fade overnight. Whether this is a temporary setback or the beginning of the end for TikTok in the U.S. for now, it’s a bittersweet goodbye.

Will TikTok find a way back? Only time will tell. Until then, let’s enjoy the final scroll.