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Chinese App Xiaohongshu Gains Popularity as Americans Embrace Mandarin Amid TikTok Concerns

Chinese App Xiaohongshu Gains Popularity as Americans Embrace Mandarin Amid TikTok Concerns

Americans Turn to Chinese Social Media Amid TikTok Uncertainty

As TikTok faces an uncertain future in the United States, a growing number of Americans are turning to Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, as a potential alternative. This shift has sparked an unexpected trend: a surge in Americans learning Mandarin to better engage with the app’s predominantly Chinese-speaking community.

Language learning platforms are reporting significant increases in US users studying Chinese. Duolingo, a popular language-learning app, has seen a 216% rise in new Mandarin learners from the United States compared to the previous year. This growth far outpaces that of other languages, such as Spanish, which experienced a 40% increase. Notably, Duolingo’s survey indicates a spike in users citing TikTok as their motivation for joining the app.

Similarly, Drops, another language learning platform, has experienced a surge in Chinese-language learners, with user numbers tripling expectations.

The migration to RedNote is fostering a unique cultural exchange, with Americans and Chinese users learning each other’s languages. Social media platforms are abuzz with videos of users documenting their Mandarin learning journeys, aiming to become respectful RedNote users. Conversely, the influx of American users on RedNote is encouraging some Chinese users to improve their English skills.

This trend comes amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the United States. The popular video-sharing app faces a potential ban, pending a Supreme Court review and possible divestment from its parent company, ByteDance. Discussions of potential US buyers are underway, and there is speculation about a possible extension by President Biden if progress is made in addressing security concerns.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in keeping TikTok operational in the US, despite previously supporting a ban during his first term.

As the TikTok saga continues to unfold, the unexpected rise in cross-cultural engagement and language learning demonstrates the far-reaching impact of social media platforms on global communication and cultural exchange.