Is RedNote available in the UK? How to download app and set up an account
With a potential TikTok ban looming just days away, US users are flocking to another video sharing app.
RedNote is the China-owned app, also known as Xiaohongshu locally, which surged to the top spot as the most downloaded free app in the US App Store on Monday (January 14).
Boasting around 300 million monthly users, RedNote blends features from both TikTok and Instagram, offering a platform where mostly young urban women share lifestyle tips, from dating advice to fashion trends.
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The app’s name is linked to the color red, symbolic in Chinese culture for good fortune and prosperity. It also evokes the tradition of red envelopes, which are given with monetary gifts and well-wishes.
As TikTok faces its January 19 deadline to be sold or face a ban, some TikTok users, dubbed "TikTok refugees," have already started migrating to RedNote.
But what exactly is RedNote, and how does it stack up against TikTok? Here's everything you need to know about the latest social media challenger.
Can I download RedNote in the UK?
Users can easily download RedNote on both Android and Apple devices, as the app is available on both platforms.
Recently, it has climbed to the top of the Google Play Store in the UK, while The Telegraph reports that it also reached the number one spot on the iPhone App Store charts in both the UK and the US this week.
What is RedNote?
RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in China, which translates to "Little Red Book," is a Chinese social media and e-commerce platform that’s gaining global attention.
Launched in Shanghai in 2013, RedNote combines elements of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, offering users a space to share lifestyle tips, product reviews, short videos, and more.
While TikTok is primarily focused on short-form videos, RedNote expands the experience by incorporating images, community discussions, and in-depth reviews, creating a more diverse content-sharing platform.
Although the two platforms may look similar, RedNote is far from a TikTok clone. They are owned by separate companies: RedNote is operated by Shanghai-based Xingyin Information Technology, while TikTok is run by Beijing-based ByteDance.
How to set up a RedNote account
Download the RedNote app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Installation takes less than a minute.
Open the app and a welcome message will appear, followed by the terms and conditions for the user agreement and privacy policy. Click "agree" (highlighted in red) to proceed.
Next, a message will prompt you to allow RedNote to send notifications, including alerts and system sounds. Choose either “Don’t allow” or “Allow.”
You’ll land on the login page. We recommend clicking the red login button. There are other login options for users with Chinese social media accounts, but this is the simplest for newcomers. Before you click “Log in,” make sure to check the box agreeing to the “Terms, Privacy Policy, Protection Rules for Children/Teenagers.”
Enter your phone number. Make sure to change the country code to your local code, such as +44 for the UK. A verification code will be sent to your phone, enter it to log in. This process takes just a few seconds, but may vary by country.
Choose your gender.
Select your age.
Pick your interests from a variety of categories, including nail care, pets, life tips, and more.
You're now ready to explore! Just respond to one final message asking whether you want RedNote to track your activity across other apps and websites. Choose “Ask App Not to Track” or “Allow.”
Why has RedNote become popular?
US officials and lawmakers have raised alarms about TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, citing concerns over potential ties to the Chinese government.
National security fears have emerged, with worries that Beijing could pressure TikTok to share data on its 170 million US users.
The US Justice Department has called TikTok a “national-security threat of immense depth and scale” due to its Chinese ownership and access to sensitive information about Americans.
The migration comes as Supreme Court justices gear up to rule on a law that requires TikTok to either sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban by January 19.
TikTok, however, has resisted calls to sell, arguing that such a move would violate free speech protections.
As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, RedNote has emerged as a rising alternative, now attracting over 300 million active monthly users.
During the pandemic, its user base skyrocketed, particularly among younger Chinese women, who now represent 79 percent of the platform’s community, according to The New York Post.
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