RedNote, aka Xiaohongshu, is basically the Chinese owned version of TikTok mixed with Pinterest. And Americans? They’re downloading it like it’s Black Friday at Target. People are giggling in bed setting up their profiles and asking Chinese users, “How do you feel about us being here?” The top comment? “In the club, we all fam.”

Here’s the shady part: RedNote’s terms of service require you to follow Chinese laws—even if you’re not in China. Sounds like a trap, right?” RedNote’s rules: •No political content. •No offensive posts. •No intellectual property violations. Break them while you’re in the U.S.? You’re fine. But if you travel to China? Welcome to Midnight Express: The Sequel—but this time, you’re stuck in a Chinese jail for breaking app rules. Download at your own risk.

So, the app that Americans are downloading in droves as a backup to TikTok? It’s called RedNote. But in China, it’s known as Xiaohongshu, which translates to… Little Red Book. Yes. As in Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book. For those of you who aren’t history nerds, Mao’s Little Red Book was basically the mascot of the Cultural Revolution—a collection of his quotes and philosophies that everyone in Communist China was required to carry around. It wasn’t optional. You waved it, you quoted it, and you didn’t question it, or you risked being sent to reeducation camps. It was all about enforcing loyalty and control. Now, I’m not saying this app is Mao 2.0—but tell me the irony isn’t sending you.

The U.S. government has been screaming about TikTok being a national security risk because of its ties to China. So what do Americans do? Skip TikTok and download an app called Little Red Book. Like, imagine being a national security official reading this headline today. You’ve been warning people about China’s potential to surveil us, and instead of stepping away, we just went straight to the source. We’re unhinged.

TikTok creators are frustrated—and for good reason. Lawmakers at the SCOTUS hearing clearly don’t know how algorithms or apps actually work. Telling creators to ‘just make a new algorithm’ is out of touch. Meanwhile, Americans are rushing to download RedNote, an actual Chinese app. The irony is wild.

RedNote’s terms of service are wild. Your face? Your content? Your branding? They want it all. Here’s the deal:” 1️⃣ They own your content forever. Delete it? Leave the app? Doesn’t matter—they still have it. 2️⃣ They can sell your content. To advertisers, partners, or whoever they want—without asking you. 3️⃣ Your face and branding? Theirs to use. Logos, trademarks, even your image—it’s all fair game. 4️⃣ They can remix your content. RedNote can adapt or alter anything you post into whatever they want. 5️⃣ No compensation, ever. They can use your work for their marketing indefinitely, and you’ll never see a dime. How are people totally cool giving China that kind of access?

Apparently RedNote warns you to think twice before sharing your facial recognition data. Cute. But let’s not crown them the hero here—this app is literally owned by the CCP. Do you really want them having your face? Be serious.

Here’s a take I actually agree with: RedNote openly shares your data with the Chinese government—the same government behind mass surveillance, censorship, and genocide. Their privacy policy lets them access your photos, mic, and location, all under the vague excuse of ‘public interest.’ Why is everyone downloading this app like it’s a joke? Spoiler: the punchline is About to be on you.

This isn’t a ‘stick it to the U.S. government’ moment—it’s just hopping onto another Chinese-owned platform that will get banned on Jan 19 too. Here’s the deal: •The TikTok ban isn’t just about ByteDance. The law targets all non-U.S.-owned platforms (hi, RedNote). If TikTok goes, RedNote will go too —and Congress doesn’t need to pass another law to do it. •ByteDance has already said U.S. servers will go dark if TikTok is banned. VPNs might work, but it’s not a sustainable solution for creators.

Perhaps this is a moment of natural selection. Imagine switching to RedNote and explaining it like this: “I downloaded an app literally called the Little Red Book because the U.S. government censored TikTok to ‘protect our data.’ But don’t worry, I’m not falling for Red Scare propaganda.” Ma’am, RedNote is owned by China. The CCP doesn’t need your permission to surveil you—they already have it. Community and guidance? Sure. Just don’t forget your data, face, and browsing history are now part of their ‘support system.’ @libsoftiktok @ChayaRaichik10 are you seeing this? 🤦🏽‍♀️

Hey, I’m Ari. I represented some of the biggest TikTok stars in the world, and now I help business owners grow with short-form videos. Follow if you like my unhinged content 😅 Want to level up your socials? Check out http://CreatorGenius.com for more.