I Downloaded Red Note as the TikTok Ban Looms. Let's Discuss

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Courtesy Ana Calderone; Cheng Xin/Getty

Courtesy Ana Calderone; Cheng Xin/Getty

TikTok refugees are searching for ~good vibes~.

The general consensus on TikTok is that users don’t want to just move their scrolling toInstagram’s ReelsandYouTube Shorts. People are there, but they’re dragging their feet about it.

Beauty influencerJames Charles, who has 39.5M followers on TikTok,posted a videosaying that when sharing his same content on Reels, he gets much fewer likes and less positivity. “I do not understand how the audiences on the platforms are so different,” he added.

Red Note.Courtesy Ana Calderone; Cardi B/RedNote

Courtesy Ana Calderone; Cardi B/RedNote

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For starters, my sign-up experience was rocky. I was prompted to create an account with my phone number — but I couldn’t receive the verification code. I had better luck signing up with my Apple ID, but it still required a verified phone number to unlock all the settings. A number of people seemed to be having the same issue, so I gave it a day.

After about 24 hours, I received an SMS with a verification code. Only it was now expired. Still, it felt like progress. I attempted to verify my phone, received a new code almost immediately and then I was in. Let’s go!

Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty

This tutorialshows you how to make sure your settings are set to English, but there’s still limited translation. (I assume the developers are working as fast as they can given the influx of Americans joining.)

I picked my “interests” — all in Mandarin — based on vibes, and yet still Red Note seems to have me figured out already. My Explore page suggested videos from food creator Nick DiGiovanni, Cardi B and Lucky Blue Smith. (Note: Page verification is bound to be slow, so beware of fake celebrity accounts in the interim.)

The Chinese users have been welcoming — offering tips on using the app and teaching us slang in Mandarin. I haven’t posted my own content yet but when I do, I’ll use their suggestion to add captions so they can consume too. Editing apps like CapCut will help with that.

I know what you’re thinking: We’re going from one Chinese app to another? Won’t it just get banned too? Maybe, but even if that’s true, it’s encouraging as a creator and user to see our community organizing.

Just ask Queen of TikTok hot takes,Bethenny Frankel, who has been referring to the post-Jan. 19 time as “the after party.”

“If you make your living on TikTok, do not fret. Here’s why: The fish will move elsewhere… Do not worry. Stay positive,” shesaid in a recent post. “We’ll find each other and we’ll do it elsewhere.”

I think she’s right.

source: people.com