As the likelihood of a TikTok ban in the United States looms, many American users are migrating to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, pushing it to the top of the US App Store’s download charts.

Dubbed “TikTok refugees,” these users view their shift to Xiaohongshu as a symbolic stance against the proposed ban. The US Supreme Court is set to decide by January 19 on legislation requiring TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban over national security concerns.

With indications that the Court may uphold the legislation, the number of Xiaohongshu accounts created by American users has surged. Many have been posting under hashtags such as #tiktokrefugee and #tiktok. Since the start of the week, Xiaohongshu has become the most downloaded free app on Apple’s US App Store.

Xiaohongshu, meaning “Little Red Book,” is a Chinese platform blending e-commerce, short-form videos, and social networking. Popular among younger demographics, especially women in China, Taiwan, and Malaysia, it has over 300 million active monthly users. The platform is widely used for product recommendations, travel tips, restaurant reviews, and beauty tutorials.

American users have begun sharing videos introducing themselves on Xiaohongshu, which they’ve nicknamed “RedNote,” while seeking guidance on using the platform. The hashtag #tiktokrefugee has already garnered over 160,000 posts.

Chinese users on Xiaohongshu have greeted the influx of Americans warmly, offering language tips and advice on navigating China’s internet, where politically sensitive content is often censored.

Despite the surge in downloads, it is unclear whether Xiaohongshu can fully replace TikTok for American users. The platform, primarily designed for Chinese users, lacks translation features and is not optimized for an international audience. Unlike TikTok’s well-developed e-commerce and advertising ecosystem, Xiaohongshu’s infrastructure in these areas remains underdeveloped.

As the January 19 deadline approaches, the migration of TikTok users to Xiaohongshu highlights both the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US and the growing influence of alternative platforms in the global social media landscape.