Millions of ‘TikTok refugees’ flock to China's RedNote ahead of US ban

American social media users seek alternatives days ahead of looming ban

Xiaohongshu is China's closest analog to Instagram, combining photos, videos and life updates with an increasing push into livestreamed e-commerce. Photographer: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images

New users have piled in to Chinese social media app RedNote just days before a proposed US ban on the popular social media app TikTok, as the lesser-known company rushes to capitalise on the sudden influx while walking a delicate line of moderating English-language content, sources told Reuters.

In a live chat dubbed “TikTok Refugees” on RedNote on Monday, more than 50,000 American and Chinese users joined the room.