US 'TikTok refugees' are signing up for Mandarin Chinese lessons en masse to use RedNote

With the TikTok ban in the US looming, many American users are brushing up on their Chinese — not to stay on TikTok, but to join a new platform called RedNote (or Xiaohongshu). The US law, set to kick in on January 19, would remove TikTok from US app stores and prevent it from working unless users install a VPN.  

Instead of trying to dodge the ban, millions of TikTok users are jumping over to RedNote, a Chinese-owned app that’s quickly becoming the next big thing. This shift has sparked an unexpected cultural exchange, with American users even helping Chinese users with their English homework.

Learning Mandarin out of spite? You're not alone.

We’ve seen a ~216% growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year. https://t.co/9hzwBxfTgD pic.twitter.com/qWM9f5oFYA

— Duolingo (@duolingo) January 15, 2025

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Learning Mandarin to navigate RedNote

As RedNote has gained momentum among US users, it’s becoming clear that many are unconcerned about the data privacy concerns that led to TikTok’s ban in the first place. For many, the appeal of Chinese social platforms is just too strong to resist. However, since RedNote is primarily designed for a Chinese audience, it defaults to Mandarin. This has led to a surprising side effect — Americans are flocking to Duolingo to learn Chinese.

Duolingo has reported a huge surge in Mandarin learners, with new sign-ups skyrocketing by 216 per cent compared to the same time last year. This surge has been particularly noticeable since mid-January, as RedNote adoption reached new heights. Interestingly, many users have cited TikTok as the reason they decided to learn Mandarin, showing just how closely the two apps are linked in the minds of users.

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Duolingo sees a boost in popularity

The Mandarin boom has been great news for Duolingo, with the language-learning app seeing a 36 per cent increase in downloads in the US as of January 3. This boost in installs suggests that users are keen to dive into RedNote and other Chinese social apps, and are preparing by learning the language.

Duolingo has even had some fun with the trend, posting a TikTok video with its green owl mascot heading to China to learn Mandarin. The video has racked up hundreds of thousands of likes, reflecting just how big the Mandarin learning trend has become.

With Duolingo now ranking higher in the App Store and Google Play, it’s clear that the TikTok ban has had a significant impact on both social media habits and language learning trends. Users seem more than willing to embrace a new platform and learn a new language in the process.

A new era of social media and cultural exchange

This shift isn’t just about switching apps — it’s also about a growing cultural exchange between the US and China. While concerns about data privacy and security continue to simmer, it seems many users are prioritising the opportunity to explore new social experiences. With RedNote on the rise and Mandarin becoming a must-learn language for many, it looks like we’re seeing a shift in how people connect, share, and interact online. The world of social media is changing, and for some, it’s a chance to break out of the old ways and try something completely different.