The TikTok Alternatives Users Are Flocking To

(CLO) There are only three days left until TikTok is banned in the US, but many users have already started to say goodbye and look for alternative platforms.

Female influencer Jasmine Chiswell posted a video with a sad expression and the caption: "I said goodbye to 18 million best friends because TikTok is about to be banned", along with sad face and broken heart emojis.

TikTok's future in the US remains bleak. Photo: Solen Feyissa

Fears of a ban were heightened after The Information reported that TikTok could shut itself down to US users on Sunday if it fails to win a Supreme Court case or find a US buyer. Many had previously thought TikTok would be removed from app stores, but existing users would still be able to access it.

Now, however, a slew of alternative apps are ready to welcome the “TikTok refugees.” Interestingly, these apps are not familiar competitors like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Snapchat Spotlight, but rather new names like Xiaohongshu (RedNote), Lemon8, Clapper, Flip, and Fanbase.

Notable alternative apps

RedNote (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese social media app similar to Instagram, is popular for its travel, beauty, and fashion content. Many Americans joined RedNote as a way to protest the US government's ban on TikTok.

The influx of American users to RedNote has created some interesting cultural moments. Users share Chinese lessons, internet slang, and call for the app to add automatic bilingual subtitles. Duolingo says the number of Chinese learners is up 216% year-on-year, likely due to the influx of Americans joining RedNote.

Lemon8, a Pinterest-like app owned by TikTok's parent company ByteDance, has also seen a surge in users. ByteDance has been promoting the app since early 2023, when CEO Shou Chew testified before the US Congress on data privacy issues.

However, both RedNote and Lemon8 could be affected by legislation that bans apps controlled by “foreign adversaries” – like TikTok. Some cybersecurity experts worry that RedNote could also share US user data with the Chinese government.

Clapper, a short-video platform that features live audio chats, much like social network X, added 1.4 million new users over the past week, with 400,000 added on Wednesday alone.

Flip, a short video app focused on online shopping, currently ranked 6th on the Apple App Store, has apologized to users for the overwhelming number of subscribers that made the app slow or inaccessible.

The failure of the tech giants?

Despite Instagram and YouTube’s efforts to develop TikTok-like features, it seems users are still not really satisfied. According to data analytics firm Sensor Tower, Snapchat and YouTube downloads are down this week compared to last week, while Instagram only saw a slight increase of 2%.

Many users say these platforms lack the “magic” that TikTok brings. For example, Instagram Reels videos cannot be paused unless the user holds their finger on the screen. Furthermore, the environment on Instagram is considered less friendly than TikTok, where users feel comfortable, natural and easily accepted by the community.

What makes TikTok different is its superior algorithm, which recommends videos with "scary" accuracy, even if the user does not follow that account.

“TikTok’s algorithm is unmatched,” says Jake Maughan, head of marketing at advertising agency BENlabs. “Even YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels can’t compete with it. TikTok allows anyone to become famous overnight – something other platforms can’t do.”

Businesswoman Stormi Steele, owner of the cosmetics brand Canvas Beauty, is worried about losing access to TikTok Shop – where she earns between $2 and $3.5 million a month through livestream sales.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, Forbes, Bloomberg)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-ung-dung-thay-cho-tiktok-ma-nguoi-dung-dang-do-xo-den-post330790.html