When TikTok went down, RedNote seemed like the perfect backup—until users hit a wall with its strict rules.

A few days after TikTok briefly went offline and then made a quick comeback in the US, people who had deleted the app tried to reinstall it—only to realize it was still unavailable. Instead of their usual feed, they got a pop-up message saying a law had banned TikTok in the US and that “President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.” That’s when the term “TikTok refugees” started popping up.

With TikTok out of the picture, many users rushed to RedNote (Xiaohongshu), another Chinese social media app. But making the switch hasn’t been as easy as they hoped.

It didn’t take long for some users to start feeling frustrated with RedNote’s strict censorship rules, which are a lot more intense than what they’re used to. Even so, the app skyrocketed to the top of the US Apple App Store for a day. But what’s next? Could RedNote replace TikTok, or is it just a temporary fix? Let’s break it down.

RedNote censorship

Unlike TikTok, which separates its Chinese version from the international one, RedNote offers a single platform for everyone. This makes it easier for users from different countries to connect and interact online.

But, while RedNote creates a shared experience, it also enforces strict content rules. The internet isn’t always the friendliest place—you’ll run into rude comments and people taking patriotism too far. Having clear censorship rules makes sense, but RedNote takes things further. The platform tightly controls topics like politics, drugs, and sexuality, setting even tougher limits than similar social networks.

One Tiktok refugee got frustrated when RedNote removed his upper body photo. He questioned why he couldn’t share fitness pictures showing his abs, saying TikTok and Instagram never gave him this problem.

Another newcomer, who identifies as non-binary, saw their post removed after asking if RedNote welcomes LGBTQ+ people. Meanwhile, Chinese users found creative ways to work around these restrictions. For example, @NerudaLingChinese suggests using hashtags like #le for lesbians and #T for tomboys.

Does VPN work for TikTok?

US TikTok users trying to get around the ban with VPNs aren’t having much luck. It looks like TikTok has put extra measures in place to block access for Americans.

Apparently, if TikTok detects you’re in the US or using an account made there, it won’t let you in. My friend in the US tried using NordVPN, and it didn’t work for him.

No one’s exactly sure how TikTok is enforcing the ban, but the fact that VPNs aren’t working is interesting—especially since they worked when India banned the app.

Why is Xiaohongshu so popular?

Even though Xiaohongshu is a big hit in China—the company has stayed pretty under the radar. In fact, it hasn’t updated its English-language news page in years.

Recently, though, Xiaohongshu’s downloads in the US have nearly tripled. Celebrities are jumping on board too. Canadian rapper bbno$ is posting. Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mom, already has more than 600,000 followers on the platform, where she shares lifestyle and fashion content. She frequently visits China after signing a deal with the electronics giant Oppo to represent its flagship smartphone globally.

So, what’s drawing Americans in? Xiaohongshu lets users share short videos and text posts that often spark long, Reddit-style comment threads. Like TikTok, it uses a smart algorithm to recommend content and keep users engaged. It’s easy to see why people are spending so much time on it.

Parting thoughts

Whether Xiaohongshu remains popular in the US or gets overtaken by other apps depends on how quickly they make the platform user-friendly for English speakers. They also need to figure out how to handle English content.

Over the weekend, Xiaohongshu added a feature that lets translate posts and comments between Mandarin and English.

At the same time, I noticed job listings from Chinese tech outsourcing companies. They’re looking for content moderators to manage the flood of English posts and videos being uploaded.

Overall, the idea behind the platform is pretty interesting. By combining Reddit and TikTok features, it could attract a lot of TikTok refugees, and beyond. For more updates, check out Gadget Flow’s tech news section!