What Is the 'RedNote' App? 19 of the Funniest Memes About This TikTok Alternative

The deadline for the Supreme Court to decide on a ruling that could ban TikTok in the United States is approaching fast, and people are understandably freaking out. What seemed like a far-off possible threat is now a very likely outcome. So where do TikTok users go from here? Many are jumping ship to another Chinese-owned app called Xiaohongshu—or "RedNote," as English speakers are calling it—the irony isn’t lost on anyone.

So what is RedNote/Xiaohongshu? Is it a safe app for Americans to use? We’ll explain. Plus we’ll share some of our favorite funny memes about it all, because honestly? We need a laugh right now.

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Is TikTok Getting Banned in America?

As NPR reported, the Supreme Court is predicted to not block a law that requires TikTok’s owner ByteDance to either sell its “U.S. assets” by Jan. 19 or be banned, per Rolling Stone. And as everyone is reporting, this TikTok ban is very likely going to happen. NPR reported that come Jan. 19, TikTok users in the U.S. will get a message when they open their apps telling them the “service is no longer available” in their country.

And while some people have shared their plans to get a VPN to work around TikTok’s ban in America, it’s unclear if that plan will work (maybe on a desktop, but if you have a U.S. SIM card, it’ll be hard to “trick” TikTok into not realizing you’re in the U.S.).

With 170 million American users on TikTok, what do they all do? TikTok content creators are moving their content to other social media sites like Instagram or YouTube. But a lot of American users are actually joining a popular Chinese app Xiaohongshu (aka RedNote) and having a blast.

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What Is the 'RedNote' App?

According to NBC News, RedNote is now being called “China’s TikTok” and is a social media platform that has a lot of the same features as TikTok. You can make posts with photos and “short-form videos,” you can shop and more. It seems like the app has updated recently to seem a little more like TikTok in terms of user experience, but still isn’t the exact same thing.

Also, as NBC News reported, it seems American TikTok users are jumping to RedNote specifically to protest the American government banning TikTok. The law that is the catalyst for the potential TikTok ban came about because the app was seen as a national security risk because it is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance. So U.S. users moving to RedNote are explicitly doing something the government seems to really not want them to. And with RedNote being the #1 “free to download” app on the Apple App Store this week, it’s safe to say that many people are doing it (whether in protest or not).

As you’ll see below, a lot of comradery is happening on Xiaohongshu between American “TikTok refugees” and Chinese users. Some are even slowly learning Mandarin to understand posts on the app better. However, CBS News reported that some cybersecurity experts and U.S. officials think this is also an unsafe move. And that the law that is banning TikTok could ultimately apply to RedNote, too. It’s also a more censored app in terms of content.

But until Xiaohongshu gets banned or TikTok is saved, here are some funny memes and reactions to RedNote to pass the time.

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19 RedNote (Xiaohongshu) Memes About the TikTok Ban

1. Just handing over that data (which is nothing new, to be honest)

2. Everyone loves 'Breaking Bad,' duh.

3. One commenter wrote, 'The cultural fusion about to be' fire, and it seems like it!

4. Because some hospital bills deserve to be aired out.

5. Har. Har.

6. Get Duolingo ready!

7. Okay, but it's the thought that counts.

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8. The beauty of the interwebs!

9. As long as it's just a joke!

10. Quality content and a language lesson? Wow.

11. Oh wait... now we see the vision!

12. Maybe this app will teach some tolerance to those who need it.

13. No notes.

14. Maybe it's about the friends we made along the way.

15. Okay, but it is kinda funny.

16. Okay, okay LAST ONE ABOUT THAT!

17. Just gonna leave this one here.

18. Real eyes realize.

19. Maybe a little harmony is all we need.

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