TikTok Users Flock to Chinese App RedNote Amid Ban Scare

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In a surprising turn of events, TikTok users in the US have turned to the Chinese app RedNote as the popular short-form video app faced a ban. RedNote quickly became the top free app in the US, but after Trump paused the ban, its daily active users declined by 54%. TikTok users were sending a message to lawmakers and Meta, signaling that they were not concerned about the 'national security threat' posed by a Chinese-owned app. As they engaged on RedNote, surprising cultural exchanges occurred, with users asking each other about the cost of living and the accuracy of their governments' characterizations. However, RedNote's position as a top app in the US is unlikely to last, as it's localized in Mandarin and focused on the Chinese market.

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Key Points:

The US and China have agreed on a framework for a trade deal
The deal includes a resolution on TikTok's US operations and a deferral on China's rare earth minerals controls
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So, what's next for the US and China?

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What's Going On?
President Trump just signed an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund, which might help buy TikTok!

Why Should You Care?
This fund could change how the US invests in technology, with potential impacts on national security and social media.

What Do We Know?

  • Trump wants to delay TikTok's ban for 75 days.
  • The fund will invest in stocks, bonds, and more.
  • It could lead to better infrastructure, research, and investments.
  • The plan still needs approval from Congress.
  • Trump had hinted about a sovereign wealth fund during his 2024 campaign.
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TikTok's Fate Hangs in the Balance as Biden Passes the Buck to Trump

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Get ready for a TikTok shutdown in the US this Sunday! The Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok to be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or face a ban. TikTok's statement warns of a dark app unless the government assures no legal action against service providers.","

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Bad news for TikTok fans! The US Supreme Court has upheld a law that will ban the popular social media app in the country, citing national security concerns. The ban is set to take effect this Sunday, unless TikTok cuts ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance. Here's what we know:

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TikTok Users Spitefully Switch to Chinese App RedNote, But Face Account Bans

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TikTok users are switching to the Chinese app RedNote (Xiaohongshu) to spite the US government's ban on TikTok. However, many users are facing account bans for various reasons, including having TikTok watermarks on their videos and verification issues. RedNote is not a one-to-one replacement for TikTok, as it also serves as a Chinese Yelp or Google alternative. The app's Community Guidelines are written in Mandarin, making it difficult for English speakers to navigate the app. It's unclear if RedNote will face the same fate as TikTok, as US lawmakers could potentially apply the same ban to any foreign-controlled social media platform.

TikTok Users Flock to Chinese App RedNote Amid US Ban

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With TikTok's ban looming, American users are flocking to Chinese social media app RedNote (Xiaohongshu). RedNote, which has 300 million monthly active users, has become the most downloaded app on the US App Store. The app, popular in Mandarin-speaking countries, offers social shopping features and a Pinterest-like layout. It has also caught the attention of investors, raising $917 million in venture funding. However, there are concerns about security risks and potential scrutiny from US authorities. The question is, will RedNote sustain the interest and what will it mean for its creators?

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Is TikTok getting banned in the US?*

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Reddit, the social media platform, is having some serious technical difficulties today. As of this writing, over 51,000 users have reported problems on Downdetector.com, with many unable to access the website or app.

  • The outage appears to be due to an HTTP Error.
  • Reddit confirmed the issue and is currently investigating.
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  • The issue has been ongoing since at least 7 a.m. PT.

This is the second outage in as many days, with the first one happening yesterday afternoon. TechCrunch has reached out to the company for comment.

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