Is RedNote actually a TikTok various? I attempted it to seek out out

With a potential 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 loads like TikTok however provides Instagram and Pinterest-like options into the combo. It permits you to share movies, pictures, and textual content, in addition to store straight, all whereas utilizing an interest-based algorithm to serve up content material.

I first observed 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 a bit digging to study extra about it. Right here’s all the pieces I’ve discovered, so you possibly can higher determine if it’s price changing into the newest TikTok refugee to make the swap.

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Methods to obtain and use RedNote

Get the TikTok various

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Here is a fast step-by-step tutorial on the right way to get began with RedNote, however I give extra particulars on what it was like for me later on this information.

1. Obtain: Seek for “RedNote” in your most popular app retailer. Search for the app’s pink brand and set up it.
2. Enroll: Open the app, faucet “Log In,” enroll (e.g., with Apple ID), and enter your gender and age.
3. Decide pursuits: Select matters you want, reminiscent of magnificence or style.
4. Enable/decline monitoring: Determine if the app can observe your exercise throughout different apps.
5. Browse movies: The Discover web page permits you to choose a video after which swipe via extra to look at. You may also like, remark, and many others.
6. Discover the app: Navigate to House, Store, Messages, Profile, and Publish icons by way of the underside menu to see what else you are able to do.
7. Verify Settings: Entry your app settings beneath Profile for extra account choices and insurance policies (be aware: 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 if you seek for it within the Apple App Retailer, the primary app that reveals up isn’t in English. However I acknowledged the little pink brand, so I went forward and downloaded it. After I opened the app for the primary time, I obtained a login display. I tapped “Log In” and signed up utilizing my Apple ID. Then, I picked my gender (the one choices had 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, style, humorous, and some others. Subsequent, the app requested if it may observe my exercise throughout different apps and web sites. It mentioned 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 Circumstances 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 making an attempt out RedNote too. You’ll be able to see an example video here. Your entire video interface felt acquainted – I may 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 observed a navigation bar with icons for House, Store, Messages, Profile, and an enormous pink “+” within the center for posting or going stay. 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, but it surely 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 seek out the Phrases and Circumstances I missed after 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 after I opened them, I used to be hit by a wall of non-English textual content. Tremendous useful.

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. A variety of the movies in my feed had captions saying “TikTok refugee,” so I tapped on a number of, however truthfully, I obtained bored fairly shortly.

Remaining ideas

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I am going to admit, I nonetheless want to make use of extra of RedNote, but it surely does vaguely really feel likeTikTok. Among the options are acquainted, however the language boundaries and lacking context makes it onerous to completely make the swap.

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FAQ

What does RedNote imply?

RedNote’s official title in China is “Xiaohongshu.” Which means “Little Red Book” in English. RedNote has grow to be 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 via Shanghai-based Xingyin Info 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 line 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 isn’t owned by ByteDance, RedNote nonetheless operates as a Chinese language-developed app, which locations it beneath the scrutiny of US legal guidelines focusing on know-how linked to “international adversaries.” These legal guidelines may limit its operations and even result in a possible ban of RedNote within the US.

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