Xiaohongshu leads App Store download chart in US

China’s instagram-like app Xiaohongshu topped the most downloaded apps in the US as the TikTok ban closes.

The social media platform, also called Red Note by US users, becomes the most downloaded free mobile application in the United States in Apple’s App Store, according to the latest ranking.

On Chinese social media, netizens are also discussing about the US users flocking into Xiaohongshu, who called themselves “TikTok refugees” with their location shown in the America. 

It comes after some US TikTok influencers called their followers to shift to Xiaohongshu amid the fear of the short video platform being banned by the US government on January 19 as scheduled unless the app would be sold by its Chinese parent Bytedance.

But US President-elect Donald Trump who will take office on January 20 previously signalled support for a delay.

In recent weeks, TikTok has been appealing its US users to move to Lemon 8, which the Chinese owner Bytedance launched to compete with Xiaohongshu in markets outside China.

Lemon 8 is ranking the second among the most downloaded app in US’s App Store.

Launched in 2013, Xiaohongshu has around 300 million of active monthly users and is stepping efforts to develop e-commerce in recent years for commercialisation. 

(Themis Qi)