Americans flock to RedNote amid TikTok ban controversy
Recently, information circulated on the internet, sparking a significant controversy among American TikTok users. As of January 19, the US government plans to prohibit the use of the app in the country. Internet users are protesting and are creating accounts en masse on other Chinese platforms, one of which is RedNote. How does the app work?
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025. The US government fears that Chinese authorities might be able to access user data or influence content published on the app. The app's management argues that there is no evidence of such actions, and measures undertaken, such as storing data on servers in the United States, aim to ensure safety.
Will TikTok disappear from the American market?
Both TikTok and many users claim that the law violates rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom of speech. The app's lawyers emphasize that shutting down the platform would affect millions of people who use it as a tool for work, entertainment, or communication. Additionally, for many creators, the app has become their main source of income, and its disappearance would have profound social and economic consequences.
Currently, the government's final decision remains unknown. Although President-elect Donald Trump is appealing to the Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of the law, the details remain unclear. Furthermore, he claims that his administration may find a compromise solution to the issue. He also believes that his negotiation experience and electoral mandate will enable him to resolve this matter without needing to remove TikTok from the American market.
Americans move to RedNote
Both American TikTokers and internet users are upset at the prospect of the app disappearing from their country. As part of the protest, they have started installing another Chinese app - RedNote. The alternative platform operates very similarly to TikTok, and although it primarily functioned in the Asian market, it is currently the most downloaded app across the United States.
Americans switching to the Chinese platform call themselves "refugees" from TikTok. To further express their displeasure with the government, they are also deleting their accounts in Meta apps such as Instagram and Facebook.
