TikTok Ban Spurs U.S. Users to Flock to Xiaohongshu (REDNote)
As the U.S. government contemplates a potential ban on TikTok, many American users are actively searching for alternative platforms to continue sharing and discovering content. Xiaohongshu, known as REDNote in English, has quickly risen to prominence as a favored alternative.
This Chinese social media app, often hailed as China’s equivalent to Instagram, uniquely blends short-form videos with e-commerce functionalities. Its recent surge to the top of the U.S. App Store’s free downloads chart underscores its increasing popularity among American users, who are drawn to its vibrant community and diverse content offerings.
Step-by-Step Guide to Register for a Xiaohongshu (REDNote) Account
- Download and Install the App
- For iOS Users: Download on App Store
- For Android Users: Get it on Google Play
- Create an Account
- Open the App: Launch the Xiaohongshu app on your device.
- Choose Sign-Up Method: On the welcome screen, you will see options to sign up using your email address or phone number.
- Email Sign-Up: Enter your email address and create a password.
- Phone Number Sign-Up: Enter your phone number, select your country code, and complete the CAPTCHA puzzle. You will receive a verification code via SMS. Enter this code to verify your account.
- Set Up Your Profile: After verifying your account, you will be prompted to set up your profile. Upload a profile picture and write a brief bio to introduce yourself to the community.
- Customize Your Interests
- Onboarding Process: During the onboarding process, you will be asked to select your interests. This helps the app curate personalized content for you. Choose categories that align with your hobbies and preferences, such as fashion, beauty, travel, food, or technology.
- Explore the Platform
- Home Feed: Once you have set up your account, you will be taken to the home feed. Here, you will see a mix of posts from various users. Swipe up to scroll through the feed and tap on any post that interests you.
- Search Function: Use the search bar at the top to find specific topics, hashtags, or users. For example, you can search for “#tiktokrefugee” to find content related to TikTok refugees.
- Follow Users: Tap on the “Follow” button on any user’s profile to see their posts in your home feed.
- Change the Language to English (If Needed)
- Access Settings: Tap the profile icon on the bottom right corner of the screen to open the “Me” tab. Then, tap the gear icon in the upper corner to open the settings menu.
- Find Language Option: Scroll down to find the “Language” option and switch it to “English.” The app will automatically switch to the English version.
- Create Your Own Content
- Create a Post: Tap on the “+” icon in the bottom center of the screen to create a new post. You can upload photos, videos, or write text.
- Add Captions and Hashtags: Write a caption for your post and add relevant hashtags to increase visibility. For example, use hashtags like #tiktokrefugee, #rednote, and #fyp.
- Publish Your Post: Review your post and tap on “Publish” to share it with the community.
- Interact with the Community
- Like and Comment: Engage with other users by liking and commenting on their posts. This will help you build connections and grow your following.
