TikTok users flock to alternative Chinese app as Supreme Court considers ban

Hundreds of TikTok customers have flocked to a different Chinese language social media utility, RedNote, because the U.S. Supreme Courtroom considers a case that might ban the platform in the USA over nationwide safety issues. 

Over 50,000 American and Chinese language customers joined a stay chat on RedNote titled “TikTok refugees,” Reuters reported earlier this week. In solely a matter of days, over 700,000 customers had joined the platform, a supply near the corporate advised the wire service. 

As of Wednesday, the hashtag “TikTok refugee” reached over 250 million views and over 5.5 million feedback, based on CNN. 

The platform RedNote, generally known as Xiaohongshu in China, was on the prime of U.S. obtain rankings this week as social media customers within the U.S. seem like looking for an alternate app to TikTok. 

Based in 2013, the social media platform Xiaohongshu, which implies “Little Pink E-book,” has expanded in recognition, significantly within the U.S. The analysis agency Qian Gua, cited by CNN, stories that Xiaohongshu has 300 million customers, making it considered one of China’s hottest social media apps. 

In line with estimates from app information analysis agency Sensor Tower, which Reuters cited in its report, U.S. downloads of RedNote have been up greater than 200% year-over-year this week. The downloads additionally went up 194% from the week prior. 

The platform’s surge in development comes forward of the Supreme Courtroom resolution on whether or not to uphold a regulation requiring TikTok’s dad or mum firm, ByteDance, to both promote the app to a U.S. firm or shut down operations within the nation by Jan. 19.

Whereas the invoice acquired bipartisan assist, with President Joe Biden signing it into regulation final April, TikTok and a bunch of its customers challenged it, claiming the regulation violated their First Modification rights. 

As Axios reported on Monday, the Supreme Courtroom heard oral arguments in regards to the regulation on Jan. 10, with the outlet noting that the justices appeared inclined to uphold the regulation. A number of justices famous throughout oral arguments that TikTok might proceed working if it used an algorithm that ByteDance didn’t create. 

“The regulation would not say TikTok has to close down. It says ByteDance has to divest,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, mentioned throughout oral arguments. 

TikTok has raised alarms for lawmakers like Former Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who led the Home Choose Committee on the Chinese language Communist Social gathering and has argued that the Chinese language authorities might use the platform to gather person information or push propaganda.

“TikTok basically argued at the moment {that a} certified divestment is unattainable as a result of the supply code and engineering stay in China,” Gallagher mentioned in an announcement final week in regards to the case involving the social media platform. 

“That just about proves the purpose: so long as TikTok and ByteDance are beholden to the CCP, the nationwide safety menace is just too large to disregard,” he added. 

TikTok didn’t reply to The Christian Put up’s request for remark. 

As sources conversant in the matter advised Reuters this week, TikTok plans to close down operations of the social media platform within the U.S. The sources say that the corporate plans to permit customers to take information of their private info by downloading all of their information. 

The outlet reported that if TikTok is banned, then customers will obtain a pop-up that directs them to a different website with details about the ban.

Concerning the Jan. 19 deadline, Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sought an extension, arguing that the net communities TikTok customers have created “can’t be replicated on one other app.” Markey conceded that TikTok has issues however expressed concern {that a} ban would negatively impression People who depend on the applying for social connections and their financial livelihood. 

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., blocked the try at extending the deadline, reasoning that lawmakers solely required that China not management the platform. He additionally asserted that TikTok’s homeowners had time to discover a purchaser however opted to foyer and take authorized motion as a substitute. 

“So, the top is coming for Chinese language Communist-controlled TikTok. Maybe a sale could be closed by Sunday, although I significantly doubt it,” Cotton acknowledged.

“Even so, that sale must move authorized assessment and assure that China retains no residual affect on the firm or via its algorithm. No residual affect in anyway. However come what may, Communist China will not exert this large affect over our nation and our youngsters,” the Republican lawmaker added.