Duolingo reportedly sees spike in Americans learning Chinese as TikTok users move to RedNote
SCOTUS hears arguments on TikTok as U.S. ban looms
The Supreme Court on Friday heard oral arguments over the future of TikTok after a new law is requiring ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to either sell the app or shut it down in the U.S. by January 19. LiveNOW's Christina Evans breaks it down with Adam Kovacevich, a tech policy expert.
LOS ANGELES - As the potential TikTok ban looms, U.S. users are not only migrating to alternative apps like RedNote but also learning Mandarin to adapt to the Chinese platform. Duolingo, a popular language-learning app, has reported a significant spike in new Mandarin learners, reflecting an unexpected cultural shift driven by the uncertainty surrounding TikTok.
A representative for Duolingo told TechCrunch, HuffPost, and Business Insider that Mandarin courses have seen a 216% increase in new users compared to this time last year, with the growth accelerating since mid-January.
Many new users reportedly indicated "TikTok" as the reason for joining the platform in Duolingo’s survey.
Why are TikTok users turning to RedNote?
The backstory:
RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in China, is a hybrid platform combining e-commerce and short-form video content. It has been embraced by U.S. TikTok users seeking an alternative social experience. However, because the app was designed for Chinese audiences, its default language is Mandarin, creating a learning curve for many new users.
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Despite technical challenges and reports of community guideline violations, RedNote has become the most downloaded free app in the U.S. App Store. This surge highlights a growing interest in Chinese platforms among American users, even amid ongoing concerns about data privacy and geopolitical tensions.
FILE - In this photo illustration the icon of the learning app Duolingo is pictured on a smartphone display. (Photo Illustration by Florian Gaertner/Getty Images)
Why TikTok’s potential ban is driving more Americans to Duolingo
By the numbers:
The migration to RedNote has fueled Duolingo’s growth as users rush to learn Mandarin. The app saw a 36% increase in downloads across the App Store and Google Play in early January, with new Mandarin learners outpacing other language courses.
RELATED: TikTok ban: How and when app will reportedly shut down for U.S. users
Duolingo has capitalized on the trend by creating TikTok videos tailored to these "TikTok refugees." A recent post, teaching common Mandarin phrases for navigating RedNote, received over 620,000 likes, underscoring the app’s appeal to this emerging audience.
What does this mean for social media?
Big picture view:
The migration to RedNote has sparked a mix of memes and genuine cultural curiosity, showing just how far TikTok’s influence stretches—even when it’s potentially on its way out.
While some users joke about learning Mandarin to keep up with their favorite trends, others are diving headfirst into the app—showing that engaging content and community often outweigh concerns about data privacy, even the kind that landed Chinese social media apps in hot water with the U.S. government in the first place.
This shift also highlights how deeply the TikTok-style video format has embedded itself into daily life. U.S. platforms like Meta and YouTube have tried to replicate the magic with Reels and Shorts, but the humor and creativity TikTok inspires still reign supreme, even on its alternatives.
The Source
This story is based on reporting from the Associated Press, statements provided to TechCrunch, HuffPost, and Business Insider, and Duolingo’s social media updates.