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

With a doable TikTok ban looming within the US, many are questioning, “The place are all of us going to subsequent?” For some, the reply is RedNote, referred to as 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, images, 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 somewhat digging to study extra about it. Right here’s every part I’ve discovered, so you’ll be able to higher resolve if it’s price changing into the most recent TikTok refugee to make the change.

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Learn how to obtain and use RedNote

Get the TikTok various

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Here is a fast step-by-step tutorial on how one can 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 well-liked app retailer. Search for the app’s crimson emblem and set up it.
2. Join: Open the app, faucet “Log In,” join (e.g., with Apple ID), and enter your gender and age.
3. Decide pursuits: Select subjects you want, corresponding to magnificence or style.
4. Permit/decline monitoring: Resolve if the app can observe your exercise throughout different apps.
5. Browse movies: The Discover web page permits you to decide a video after which swipe by means of extra to observe. You may also like, remark, and so forth.
6. Discover the app: Navigate to House, Store, Messages, Profile, and Put up icons through the underside menu to see what else you are able to do.
7. Examine Settings: Entry your app settings underneath Profile for extra account choices and insurance policies (observe: 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 once you seek for it within the Apple App Retailer, the primary app that reveals up isn’t in English. However I acknowledged the little crimson emblem, so I went forward and downloaded it. Once I opened the app for the primary time, I acquired a login display. I tapped “Log In” and signed up utilizing my Apple ID. Then, I picked my gender (the one choices have 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 might observe my exercise throughout different apps and web sites. It stated this was for “recommending content material, security and threat 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. The whole video interface felt acquainted – I might 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 crimson “+” within the center for posting or going reside. I checked out the Store first, however every part was in one other language, together with the descriptions and costs, so I left. Subsequent, I checked out Messages, however it 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, a number of 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 search out the Phrases and Circumstances I missed after I joined. This space had choices like Account Safety, Common 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. Quite a lot of the movies in my feed had captions saying “TikTok refugee,” so I tapped on a couple of, however actually, I acquired bored fairly rapidly.

Ultimate ideas

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

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FAQ

What does RedNote imply?

RedNote’s official identify in China is “Xiaohongshu.” Meaning “Little Red Book” in English. RedNote has turn into 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 alternate options.

Who created RedNote?

Entrepreneurs Charlwin Mao and Miranda Qu launched RedNote in 2013 by means of Shanghai-based Xingyin Info Expertise. 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 lively customers, with 79% of them being girls, based on 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 underneath the scrutiny of US legal guidelines focusing on know-how linked to “overseas adversaries.” These legal guidelines might limit its operations and even result in a possible ban of RedNote within the US.

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