Everyone is wondering what will happen to TikTok, the popular social media app that teenagers—and, let’s be honest, millions of other Americans—have flocked to over the last few years. The app faces a shutdown in the United States on January 19.
TikTok is facing a U.S. ban from the federal government over concerns for user privacy and national security,.The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which President Biden signed into law in April 2024, grants the government the authority to ban foreign-owned apps that it deems a threat to national security.
The bill passed with considerable bipartisan support, as many lawmakers worry that the Chinese government could access Americans’ data—through TikTok’s parent company—and use it to surveil Americans, spread misinformation, and sway public opinion. The app could stay if Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance agrees to sell TikTok to a U.S. owner, but so far, the company has declined that route.
While the Trump administration has suggested it is willing to keep TikTok running in an attempt to find a political resolution, as of January 16th, 2025, the Supreme Court has not signaled that it will block the law, and many are not sure how it can be legally overturned in the short term.
You may also be interested in our Free Printable Teen Cell Phone Contract
Enter RedNote
As the clock ticks away to the TikTok ban, many teens and content creators are trying to figure out where to go next. Many thought that users would flock to Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts to get their video fix, but instead, the Chinese app RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in its native language, meaning “Little Red Book,” is gaining users in droves.
For many parents of teenagers, TikTok is the place where our kids get 3-ingredient recipes, dance moves, and beauty advice. It’s also a huge shopping platform that influences millions of Americans’ purchasing decisions. However, it has also been an enormous headache for parents. Viral TikTok challenges encouraged young people to commit dangerous and destructive acts, some adolescents use it to bully or reveal personal information about others, it can be a cesspool for trolls, predators, and perpetrators of sextortion, and it also impacts self-esteem (you may like to read: Parenting in the Influencer Age of Toxic Social Media.)
So, should parents be concerned about RedNote? How each family deals with social media is a personal choice, but here’s a short breakdown of what you need to know:
1. RedNote is known as the Chinese equivalent of Instagram
Founded in 2013, RedNote was first designed as a shopping platform where users could share product reviews and experiences. The app surged in China during the pandemic, much like TikTok grew in the United States. It focuses on short-form videos and streaming. Some say it has the visual layout of Pinterest combined with the social influencing of TikTok Shop and the live streaming and video capabilities of Instagram.
2. Why are teens interested in RedNote?
For many American teens, joining RedNote is more than just finding a TikTok replacement—it’s a form of digital rebellion. Videos labeled with the hashtag #tiktokrefugee have racked up millions of views, with users posting about their move to the platform as a way to “snub” the government’s TikTok ban. It doesn’t take much to see the irony.
Some teens are also drawn to the novelty of RedNote’s different features and the chance to interact with international users, predominantly in China. Some users have mentioned that it could improve relationships between the two countries as people converse more and exchange ideas.
You may like to read: Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Middle School Kids Have Social Media
3. RedNote appears to be the leading alternative–for now
According to this article on NPR, “…the start of this week saw a dramatic uptick in Google searches and social media posts about RedNote, as well as its surge to the top spot of the “free apps” chart on Apple’s app store. The market intelligence firm Sensor Tower told NPR that its data indicates RedNote is also the top-ranked social app on the Google Play store on Wednesday — a big jump from #162, where it stood this time last year
A person close to RedNote told Reuters that more than 700,000 new users joined in just two days. The New York Times reported that more than 100,000 people joined a live group chat hosted by a user named TikTok Refugee Club on Tuesday.”
That being said, teens can be fickle, so no one knows if this will be where teens find their new home. Other alternatives to be aware of include Lemon8 (also owned by ByteDance, the owner of TikTok), Fanbase, Likee, Snapchat Spotlight, and Triller.
4. Privacy concerns
As with TikTok, RedNote’s ties to China have raised questions about data security. As with any social media account, parents should review the app’s privacy policies carefully. According to one parent, however, the privacy policy is written in Mandarin, so it could be difficult for most of us in the U.S.
5. Similar, but different
The platform is algorithm-based, but while TikTok focuses on a user’s followers, RedNote prioritizes content based on an individual user’s interests, so whatever your teen is clicking on is what they will see more of. Like TikTok, RedNote can cause teens to scroll endlessly losing all concept of time and space.
Parents should also be aware that RedNote has stricter moderation policies than TikTok. Content relating to LGBTQ+ issues, political discussions, or even videos where the user is in “revealing” clothing may be flagged or removed. Many users have already reported that the app took down content that is acceptable on most other platforms, so the app’s restrictions could surprise those who are used to TikTok’s free and unregulated environment.
How to talk to your teen about RedNote
Do not think because your child doesn’t have TikTok (or social media) that you don’t have to talk to them about RedNote or other apps. Even if you do not allow access in your home, it’s possible your teen is using the app or has access outside of it. Even the best kids sometimes make bad choices.
Talking to your teens about RedNote is no different from the regular conversations you should have about all social media and technology. Here are a few suggested topics to cover:
- Start a conversation, not a lecture. Ask your teen if they know what RedNote is and if they can tell you about it. This can give you insight into their thoughts on the topic.
- Use it as an opportunity to discuss digital safety. Remind your teens and other children about the importance of privacy, both theirs and others, the proliferation of misinformation and artificial intelligence, the impact prolonged overuse of social media has on their adolescent brains and development, and understanding that they can become what they consumer online.
- Communicate (again) specific tech rules and expectations. Remind your teens what the tech rules are in your home, and write them down if needed (some families find contracts useful to take the arguments out of it.) Remember, these rules can be flexible as they prove they are trustworthy and knowledgeable.
- Acknowledge the positives of tech–not just the bad stuff. When we only harp on the negative, teens think we do not understand. Discuss tech’s benefits and drawbacks in everyday conversations with your teen, and be honest about your experiences. For example, you might share: “I notice I have the urge to look at my phone a lot” or “I don’t know how I ever managed road trips without Google Maps.” These conversations open the door to sharing how to navigate life in the digital age.
- Be informed: If you think your teens are using an app, download it and take a look at why they might enjoy it. Insist that you follow them and agree that you won’t leave “embarrassing” comments. If you restrict access, explain why and be specific.
- Constantly curate your feeds: It’s important that we remind teens that they have the power to curate their social media if they choose to use it. According to author Jessica Spear: “Social media networks and sites like YouTube use algorithms to feed us content. One downside of algorithms is that they can drop teens into a rabbit hole of harmful content, such as disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and hate-based messages. To safeguard against this, remind teens that they can curate their feed in a way that positively impacts their well-being and self-esteem. For example, they can follow inspiring people who are making positive changes in the world rather than people who make them feel bad about themselves. Here are some conversation starters: “What social media platform do you think has the best algorithm? Why do you think it is so good? Has your feed ever gone in a direction you didn’t want it to?”
Moving forward
Social media apps have come and gone, which makes it an ongoing and exhausting job for parents to keep up. The best form of defense is a good offense, so continue talking, learning, and talking a little bit more about these issues with your big kids.
From our view, we think this is a great opportunity to encourage our kids to fill their time with non-social media activities, kind of like when the electricity goes out or you’re out of range of Wi-Fi.
Looking for help as you navigate parenting in the digital age?
Check out The Phone Book – Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand by Jessica Speer. The Phone Book is packed with research-based explanations, techy tidbits, and real stories from hundreds of teens and preteens, this phone book (the fun kind) will be your guide on the path of light, teaching you healthy phone habits and ways to stay safe online.
Parenting teens is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. These posts may help:
10 Commons Battles that Will Destroy the Relationship with Your Teen
Teen Smartphone Addiction: How to Identify the Symptoms and Break Free
Sextortion Is a Growing Problem for Teens: Here’s What Parents Need to Know
10 Ways to Get Your Teenager to Stop Checking Their Phone
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