Red Note (Xiaohongshu): What is This Chinese SNS App & Why Is It Popular?
【この記事にはPRを含む場合があります】
On January 18, 2025, people around the world learned that TikTok, a popular video social network from China, was temporarily blocked in the United States.
This caused a lot of confusion, but it ended after just one day. The next day, on the 19th, Trump promised to “delay the enforcement of the TikTok ban.” He was going to be sworn in as the US President on the 20th. However, along with TikTok’s suspension, a new social media app called Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) became popular.
After hearing that TikTok would be suspended, many people on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media sites asked, “Could this be a replacement for TikTok?” and became interested in what kind of app it was.
At first, Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) might seem like another social media app like “Instagram” or “TikTok.” But Red Note is also different from other photo-sharing apps.
This article will explain what kind of app the currently popular new SNS Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is, along with its functions, features, and differences/comparisons with other SNSs.
What is Red Note (Xiaohongshu)? What country’s app is it?
(Source: Google Play)
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu), also called “Little Red Book,” is a “social media app from China” released in 2013. It is currently one of the fastest-growing platforms in China.
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is a social media app that lets you share photos, short videos, and short texts. It also has “e-commerce functions” for searching products, sharing reviews, and purchasing items, as well as “social functions” for sharing lifestyles.
As soon as it was released in 2013, it quickly gained more users both in China and in other countries. As of January 2025, it was reported that the “total number of Red Note users” had reached “300 million”, and its valuation was said to be “more than 3 billion dollars”. This shows that it is growing into a large social media platform.
A key feature of Red Note is that users can post reviews and share their experiences with products and services, as well as exchange information with other users.
You can buy your favorite products directly through its e-commerce function. This has made it popular with both individual users and companies that want to promote their products. It combines “social media” and “online shopping”.
It has lots of interesting content about lifestyle, including fashion, beauty, travel, and food. It is especially popular among women in their 20s and 30s.
Background Behind Red Note’s Attention
A key reason why people are paying attention to Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is the recent suspension of TikTok’s service in the United States. This happened after the “TikTok Ban Bill” was passed.
On January 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that a law that stops TikTok from being shared in the U.S. is okay, unless ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, sells its U.S. operations of the app.
This led to TikTok being removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play in the U.S., which meant that no one could download or update the app.
Also, existing users had restrictions on how they could use the service. This caused many users to look for an alternative social networking service (SNS) app. Out of these, Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) got a lot of attention as a promising candidate.
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) quickly gained more users. It even became the top app in the “Free Apps” category on the U.S. App Store rankings.
However, since Red Note is also a Chinese app, similar concerns regarding data privacy and national security, similar to those for TikTok, have been raised.
The U.S. Congress and regulatory authorities are particularly worried about the possibility of the Chinese government forcing the app’s parent company to share user data. Some people think that if more people start using Red Note, it might get banned, just like TikTok.
Trump’s inauguration as U.S. President led to the lifting of TikTok’s suspension the next day, on the 19th. However, depending on the situation, the TikTok ban bill could be enforced again. For this reason, people are paying close attention to the future developments of Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu).
Red Note’s Functions and Reasons for Popularity
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is popular all over the world because of the following features and functions:
Feature 1: Diverse Content Sharing
『レッドノート（rednote／小紅書）』のユーザーは、“写真” や “動画” を通じて日常生活や興味・関心を共有できます。
とくに、ファッション、美容、旅行、グルメなどの分野での情報交換が活発に行われていて、若い女性を中心に利用者を拡大中です。
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is an app that allows users to share their daily lives, interests, and hobbies through photos and videos.
There’s a lot of information exchange, especially on fashion, beauty, travel, and gourmet food. More and more people are using it, especially young women.
Feature 2: E-commerce Integration
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is a service that combines “social media” and “online shopping“.
It has a well-established system where users can tag products in their posts, allowing other users to purchase those products directly.
You can search for products, read reviews, and buy things all on the same website.
If you see a product you like while watching a video, you can immediately go to the store to buy it. This is good for both the people watching the videos and the businesses that sell products.
Feature 3: Intuitive Interface
The Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) interface is “simple and easy to use”, allowing users to “easily find” content they are interested in.
For example, on the “For You” page, small versions of the pictures are organized in two columns, and you can find categories related to your interests using the navigation bar at the top of the page.
It’s an intuitive and easy-to-use SNS, so it’s simple to get started!
Differences Between Red Note and Other SNS
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is becoming more popular as an alternative social media platform to TikTok and Instagram. It has unique features and charms that set it apart from other social media platforms.
Comparison 1: Differences from Instagram
Instagram, which is used by many people in Japan, is a social media app that’s mostly used to share photos and videos. People use it to get more followers. Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is different. It provides information through photo slideshows and text.
While Instagram is all about “entertainment value” and “aesthetic appeal”, Red Note is all about “practical information sharing,” like “product reviews” and “personal experiences”.
Instagram has a “shopping function,” but it’s mainly a platform for brands and businesses to sell products. Red Note, however, is different because it lets users talk about the products and services they use every day. These recommendations influence other users’ purchasing decisions.
Comparison 2: Differences from TikTok
TikTok is a social media app that is known for being “addictive”. It is popular among users who like to watch “short, enjoyable content,” such as dance videos.
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu) is different. It “prioritizes photos and text over videos“, and it focuses on providing more detailed information.
TikTok is adding shopping features, but it’s still mainly focused on entertainment. So, buying products in the app is something you can do on top of other activities.
Red Note, on the other hand, makes shopping the main focus of the app. This means that users can purchase products after reading reviews and learning about how they are used. This makes it more specialized in shopping than TikTok.
Red Note: A New Sensation App Merging SNS and Shopping
Red Note (rednote / Xiaohongshu), a new social media platform from China, is growing and becoming more popular around the world. People use it to share photos and videos.
While it has unique strengths not found in other social networks, such as its distinct community and integration with e-commerce, it also faces challenges concerning privacy and regulation. So, people will be talking about how the app will be managed in the future.
If you’re curious, you can check it out on the Google Play Store or AppStore.
Click here to download the “rednote” app from the Google Play Store (for Android)
Click here to download the “rednote” app from the AppStore (for iPhone/iPad)
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