New TikTok ban triggers rush to risky Chinese app RedNote
TikTok was shut down in the United States due to a change in the law, leaving users unable to access the app. Many are now seeking alternatives, often turning to another Chinese app.
TikTok took the world by storm, gaining immense popularity everywhere. Short videos, often entertaining and watched vertically, are served by an algorithm that creates a dopamine cocktail users find hard to resist. Quickly scrolling through videos can become addictive. No wonder Americans, deprived of their daily dose of 'happiness,' are looking for alternatives.
According to some, this alternative might be the Xiaohongshu app, known in Western media as RedNote. Recently, many Americans have registered for it, leading to a rise in its popularity in the American App Store, where it has reached the top spot among the most popular apps. It is also gaining popularity in the Google Play Store.
"Little TikTok"
However, RedNote is far from matching TikTok's success. The app has been downloaded over 10 million times from the Google Store. This is merely 1% of TikTok’s achievement, which boasts over 1 billion downloads.
As reported by Investopedia, information from Similarweb indicates that as of January 13, 13.3 million Americans were using the app, about 15% of those who used TikTok in the country. It is clear that interest is notable, but RedNote will not conquer the American market in a few days.
This is partly because the app is not focused on the international market, being primarily designed for Chinese users. Some navigation features in the app remain in Mandarin.
Information found online indicates that RedNote is only partially similar to TikTok. The service allows for posting recordings and photos, and users engage with infinite scroll, spending hours watching endless content. However, as reported by TechCrunch, the service is more reminiscent of Yelp or Google, offering recommendations for local businesses in addition to a video channel.
Addiction to China?
In response to TikTok's popularity, other social media platforms have promoted short video formats. YouTube has Shorts, while Instagram and Facebook have Reels. Therefore, seeking another app to post short videos might seem surprising.
Considering the political tensions between the United States and China, RedNote might soon fall out of favor in the USA. However, it's worth noting that the TikTok ban may be lifted if Donald Trump takes office.
According to Forbes, TikTok was banned in the U.S. due to extensive data collection, and RedNote performs no better in this regard.
RedNote gathers a lot of data
According to its privacy policy, the app collects substantial data about its users. This includes information such as location based on IP addresses and browsing habits. Since the app's terms are in Mandarin, many new users do not have the opportunity to review them and make an informed decision. Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, warns against a mass migration from TikTok to the RedNote app:
- RedNote might seem like a quick fix for TikTok fans ahead of its potential ban in the U.S., but it comes with serious cybersecurity and privacy risks, comments the expert.
The issue is that, like TikTok, RedNote is subject to Chinese data regulations, meaning that Chinese authorities can access user data, bypassing the privacy protections that the United States provides to its citizens.
- The platform collects extensive personal data, including location, browsing activity, and device-specific information like IP addresses. It can also share this data with third-party service providers or government authorities, raising concerns about user privacy, says Warmenhoven in an interview with Forbes.
New platform, old problems and threats
Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, echoed similar concerns. He highlighted that modern social media platforms thrive on data, learning about their users, and passing the data obtained to advertisers and other third parties. Everything is geared towards the algorithm serving us as much content as possible, which can influence our purchasing decisions, among other things.
Warmenhoven suggests that to protect privacy in the RedNote app, users should minimize the amount of personal data shared. It is also advisable to thoroughly review app settings to limit the amount of data collected.
In discussing the new platform's drawbacks, one should also mention restrictions on freedom of speech—the content moderation policy of the service is likely fully compliant with Chinese government expectations. This could lead to censorship or manipulation of content on specific topics.
- The same privacy, transparency and national security concerns that led to the TikTok debate are likely to apply here, concludes the NordVPN expert.
