As the future of TikTok hangs in the balance, a surge of American social media users has turned to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app known as “RedNote” in the U.S.

This unexpected migration has catapulted the app to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store downloads, marking a significant shift in the global social media landscape.

Xiaohongshu, founded in 2013, is one of China’s largest social media platforms with 300 million users.

Often likened to Instagram, it thrives on sharing lifestyle tips about fashion, travel, and beauty. Despite its success in China, it had seen limited international traction — until now.

Is Xiaohongshu the New TikTok?

American users, referring to themselves as “TikTok refugees,” have flooded Xiaohongshu, with some seeing it as a symbolic act of defiance against government intervention.