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A smartphone screen displays the RedNote app (Xiaohongshu) ranking first in the Free Apps category on the App Store

Image Credits:Cheng Xin(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images

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American TikTok user have been thumbing their collective noses at the U.S. government ’s decision toban TikTokbyspitefully joining another Chinese social media app , RedNote(aka Xiaohongshu ) , post it to the top of the U.S. App Store on Monday . regrettably , many of those who already made the transition have faced problems with having their account freeze and banned for a diverseness of reasons .

Initially , RedNote had seemed like a promising choice to ByteDance ’s TikTok in terms of the app ’s functionality , give its focus on forgetful - form video feeds and creator content . However , the app is n’t a one - to - one replacement for TikTok , as it ’s also designed to serve as something of a Chinese Yelp or Google alternative offering local recommendations and nearby connection in addition to the video feed .

Meanwhile , some users who joined RedNote — including popular TikToker , entrepreneur , and former Bravo starBethenny Frankel — find out themselves penalise or kicked out entirely after their initial posts on the Formosan app . According to various reports from TikTok users , these Bachelor of Arts in Nursing were due to a routine of intellect .

Some were penalise because their videos featured the TikTok water line , which evidently may be an effect on RedNote , they sound out .

Otherstalked aboutor shared screenshots of their account suspension notices , which take that they were blackball forviolating the Xiaohongshu Community Guidelines . Some of these incident involved verification issue , user reports indicate . When newcomersattemptedto verify their explanation using their U.S.-based phone number ( an option that was available on the app),they did n’t receive their codessothey tried againmultiple clip . This action go to accountsuspensionslikely over distrust bot action .

Some suspensions do n’t have an obvious account , though .

For object lesson , one TikTok user claimstheir account was frozenafter their first stake , which was a picture of Ceylon cinnamon rolls . Anotherjokedthey must have been ban for “ like too many thirst traps . ” While TechCrunch has not severally confirmed or verify the reason behind each reported forbidding , there are enough complaints from TikTok users to suggest that it ’s a real problem that citizenry are confront .

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Part of the problem is that substance abuser are link up the app but are ineffectual to register the Community Guidelines , which are written in Mandarin . ( While there is a way to switch the lyric to English in RedNote ’s app , it ’s hard to live how to find that option as an English speaker , as it take navigating the app ’s scope . )

Several TikTok Jehovah said they ’re stress toappeal their bans , but it ’s unclear what those efforts will yield .

In the meanwhile , every other app that competes with TikTok ismaking a manoeuvre for its users , though most likely creatorswill return to apps run by Meta and Google , given the need to monetize their chase at scurf .