Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re diving into the impacts of the impending TikTok ban in the U.S., such as the rise of “TikTok refugees” flocking to the Chinese app RedNote, the surge of English speakers learning Mandarin on Duolingo, and more! Let’s jump right in.
The Supreme Court has upheld a law that will effectively ban TikTok starting tomorrow. This decision brings an end to TikTok’s long legal battle against a law that essentially requires the app to shut down unless it divests its U.S. operations. As of Sunday, it will be illegal for app stores and internet hosting services to distribute TikTok. The company has warned that the app will “go dark” on Sunday, but the exact outcome of the ban remains unclear.
American users are turning to RedNote, a Chinese short-form video app also known as Xiaohongshu, as an alternative to TikTok. RedNote has become the No. 1 free app on the U.S. App Store, offering creators a platform similar to Pinterest with social shopping features. However, the transition has not been seamless for some users.
In response to the TikTok ban, many TikTok users are now using Duolingo to learn Chinese, with a significant increase in Mandarin learners in the U.S. According to Duolingo, there has been a 216% growth in new Mandarin learners compared to last year, especially as the adoption of RedNote gains momentum.
Now, for some quick news highlights of the week:
– Mark Cuban is looking to fund a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky’s AT Protocol.
– An independent developer is creating a photo-sharing app called Flashes for Bluesky.
– OpenAI’s ChatGPT now has a Tasks feature for scheduling reminders.
– Want to break up with Meta? We have a guide on deleting Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
– Nintendo has announced the successor to the Nintendo Switch, known as the Switch 2.
– Sonos’ CEO is stepping down after a software update mishap.
– If you’re looking for TikTok alternatives, we have a list of apps worth considering.
That wraps up our Week in Review. Stay tuned for more updates next week!
