TikTok alternative ‘RedNote’ removed from Android and iOS app stores in India

A Chinese app, RedNote, which was touted as a potential replacement for TikTok, is no longer available for download on Google Play Store and the iOS App Store in India.

Searches for RedNote/XiaoHongShu on these platforms returned blank — similar to searches for banned Chinese apps such as TikTok. However, the reasons for RedNote’s lack of visibility were not publicly noted on the app stores, leaving users confused.

The unavailability of RedNote in India comes just months after the app was blocked in Taiwan over the prevalence of shopping scams and data security concerns, reported BBC. Prior to this, Chinese regulators had pressured the app’s owner over negative posts on its platform.

While it is unclear what caused the sudden disappearance of RedNote from app stores in India, the app, also known as XiaoHongShu (Little Red Book) in Chinese, has enjoyed a surge in popularity. Like TikTok, RedNote allowed users to upload and watch short-form videos, apart from enabling participation in group chats, digital marketplaces, and local events.

Several Indian users posted on Reddit that they were unable to download the RedNote app within the country, and wondered if it had been blocked or banned.

A previously installed version of RedNote on a smartphone based in India continued to function normally, indicating that the app itself was unaffected. However, reliable updates and security patches may no longer be available for these users.

Like TikTok, the RedNote app was praised for its expertly curated algorithm that could be adjusted at a granular level to better showcase users’ interests, unlike Instagram’s generic feeds of Reels. Topics such as science, art, food, travel, and culture were organised across neatly separated categories on RedNote, rather than jumbling feeds intermixed with ads.

RedNote was also a space for “TikTok refugees” from the U.S. to interact directly with millions of East Asian users from China. Indians exploring the app reported both positive cultural exchanges as well as instances of racism and colourism.

RedNote was also hit with criticism and regulatory action in its home country. In September last year, the Cyberspace Administration of China said that certain individuals would be punished after RedNote failed to responsibly manage content, reported AFP. The regulator took issue with how the app’s trending search reportedly highlighted content including celebrity relationships, and “trivial” or “negative” matters.