TikTok users fleeing the ByteDance-owned social platform ahead of a crucial Supreme Court decision on its future sent a rival Chinese app to the top of Apple’s charts in the US on Monday.
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While the exact number of downloads is unknown, the Apple store put Xiaohongshu – which does not have an official English name but means “little red book” – as the No. 1 free-to-use social media platform across all free iPhone apps in the US.
The exodus of “TikTok refugees” has been spurred by mounting concerns over the app’s fate in the wake of last week’s Supreme Court oral arguments, in which the justices seemed to be inclining towards national security over free speech.
Many of TikTok’s American users began to anticipate a potential ban of the platform, fearing that the app’s Chinese ownership would become a critical point in the court’s decision.
US influencer Nuha – who has more than 1.5 million followers on TikTok and about 135,000 on Instagram – is among those signing up for Xiaohongshu’s blend of e-commerce and user-generated content.
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“Hi guys, TikTok refugee here. I am so nervous to be on this app but I also find it to be really exciting and thrilling that we are all doing this,” said Nuha, in her first video posted to Xiaohongshu on Sunday.