US users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu before TikTok ban, call themselves 'TikTok refugees'

The United States (U.S.) Supreme Court signalled that it is inclined to uphold a ban on TikTok in the country, even as many U.S. TikTok users are worried that the app would be shut down by Jan. 19, 2025.

However, instead of turning to TikTok's rival platforms in the U.S., such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, some of these TikTok users decided to join another Chinese social media platform: Xiaohongshu.

They then posted photos and videos of themselves and their lives on the platform, referring to themselves as "TikTok refugees" from the U.S. and sharing why they have migrated to yet another Chinese app.

According to some U.S. TikTok users, they heard that Xiaohongshu was similar to TikTok, and they joined “to spite [their] government” for taking away TikTok over alleged national security threats.

As a result, Xiaohongshu became the second most downloaded free app in the U.S. app store at 8:14pm (Singapore time) on Jan. 13, according to a U.S.-based Weibo user.

It only fell behind Lemon8, a lifestyle community app powered by TikTok.

What is Xiaohongshu?

Xiaohongshu, also known as "Rednote" or "Little Red Book", is an Instagram-like social media platform that focuses on consumer products and lifestyle, instead of helping users stay in touch, reported Forbes.

Its Chinese name, "小红书," also referred to the iconic "Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung", a book widely distributed during China's Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s.

Besides posting photos and videos documenting their life, some Xiaohongshu users also rely on it as a search engine for matters ranging from food recommendations to international news.

In terms of short-form video content, a Xiaohongshu user told Mothership that the platform's algorithm makes it "as addictive as TikTok".

In recent years, Xiaohongshu has also become a successful e-commerce platform, with its estimated sales revenue topping US$100 billion (S$137.42 billion) in 2025, reported Reuters.

According to Reuters, as of December 2024, Xiaohongshu had over 300 million users and a reported valuation of US$17 billion (S$23.36 billion).

Photos & videos posted by 'TikTok refugees'

In their first Xiaohongshu posts, some U.S. TikTok users expressed their anxiety over not knowing the platform well and that they may not be welcomed if they post in English.

This is because they noticed that most Xiaohongshu users are Chinese speakers, and the majority of its content is in Chinese.

To make their posts appear less out of place, many of these newcomers decided to solicit help from their pets.

Here are some examples:

Other U.S. TikTok users, however, jumped straight into sharing about their lives, with some of them including Chinese translation in their posts with the help of translation tools.

Here are some examples:

At the same time, several content creators with a significant following on TikTok also jumped on the bandwagon and started a Xiaohongshu account.

One of them is Angelo Marasigan, who is known for mimicking Kim Kardashian and has around 14.9 million followers as of Jan. 13.

Response from Chinese Xiaohongshu users

Although many Chinese Xiaohongshu users were surprised by the sudden influx of U.S. TikTok users, they welcomed the newcomers and even offered some compliments.

Some Chinese Xiaohongshu users also exchanged photos of their pets with U.S. TikTok users, who posted about their furry friends.

When one U.S. TikTok user asked for advice on improving her hair, style, and fashion, many also chimed in and shared their thoughts.

One Xiaohongshu user even seized the opportunity to ask a U.S. TikTok user to help with his English homework.

When the TikTok user replied with her answers, other Xiaohongshu users praised her for her kind gesture.

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Top images via Xiaohongshu