HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – As TikTok is bracing for its anticipated ban Sunday, users are flocking to other social media platforms with similar features.
One of them has become the most downloaded app in the United States for Apple.
RedNote is a Chinese app that resembles the set up of the social media juggernaut, as you can scroll through a trending tab of viral videos.
A common hashtag used by creators is TikTokRefugee, meaning the users are coming to the platform in preparation for the ban.
“With Tik Tok in particular that would make me very sad because of this Connecticut niche and I’m having fun with the content creation,” said Alexa Curtis, who has tens of thousands of followers on TikTok.
Some of her videos have reached more than one million views.
The former Radio Disney host was born and raised in Mansfield. When she saw a shift in how people were consuming media, she saw the opportunity to grow her platform from radio to what she calls quick viral content.
“There will always be another platform. This happened with periscope and this happened with the vine so whatever if it does happen with the band whatever would come next would do the same,” she continued.
As for the ban, it means that anyone with the app and an account will still exist. But, no new users can join.
Curtis is one of those who have moved to an alternative, as she’s joined Lemon8 and RedNote.
She however doesn’t think that they will have the same popularity.
“The thing with these other apps, like rednote and lemon8, they take thought. We have to realize that we are living in a society where people want this so fast and so quick. When you go on lemon8, you have to build a caption and you have a lot more room to write,” she said.
Scott Driscoll, who founded Internet Safety Concepts, says other apps could also prompt national security concerns, especially as RedNote is a Chinese app.
“With Rednote they say they will be using our IP addresses, how we connect to the internet. Ip address for location and they’re going to be monitoring what we watch,” he said.
He suggests that users should be more focused on where their content goes when apps disappear before shifting to the next big thing.
“Someone’s going to have it it just might not be you so slow down and understand it,” he continued.
He also advises that you read the terms of agreement on the apps. Curtis admitted that she did not read it before signing up.
“Everything I post I always expect it could end up somewhere,” she said.
Driscoll also noted that because RedNote is based internationally, local law enforcement might not be able to help if users become victim of some sort of online crime because the company doesn’t have to adhere to U.S. laws.
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