Credited from: BUSINESSINSIDER
The looming threat of a TikTok ban in the United States has prompted many Americans to start learning Mandarin, driven by their migration to a competing Chinese social media platform, RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu. As these new users, often referred to as "TikTok refugees," make the switch, they are adopting Mandarin to enhance communication on the app.
Recent reports indicate a remarkable increase in Americans utilizing language learning platforms to pick up Mandarin. Duolingo, one of the leading language apps, noted a staggering 216% growth in new Mandarin learners compared to the previous year, a rise much greater than that seen in other languages such as Spanish, which only experienced a 40% increase during the same period. Duolingo's spokesperson mentioned that a significant number of new users cited discovering the app through TikTok, clearly indicating the connection between social media trends and language acquisition (SCMP).
Another language application, Drops, witnessed a similar trend, reporting that they had welcomed nearly three times as many users focused on learning Chinese recently and five times more US-based learners than anticipated. The app's general manager, Frederik Cordes, attributed this spike to external factors influencing new downloads during the last few days.
Noël Wolf, a cultural expert from Babbel, remarked on the cultural significance of this transition, stating that the wave of Americans joining RedNote symbolizes an "unprecedented level of direct cultural exchange facilitated by language learning." Many users are even sharing their initial learning experiences on TikTok by posting videos of themselves practicing Mandarin, illustrating the sense of community and support among learners.
RedNote's meteoric rise in popularity has not only sparked a demand for Mandarin learners but also instigated a parallel trend of Chinese users on the platform learning English in response to the influx of American users. Reports indicate that more than 700,000 new users joined Xiaohongshu in just two days, which, while significant, is still a fraction of TikTok's 170 million US users.
Currently, the future of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance. Recent legislation could potentially lead to a ban on the app from US app stores unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership. Ongoing discussions around a potential acquisition and the Supreme Court's review of TikTok's appeal leave its fate uncertain. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a desire to keep TikTok operating in the US, reflecting the complex dynamics at play in the social media landscape.
As the situation develops, it remains clear that the cultural exchange catalyzed by app transitions like TikTok to RedNote will have lasting implications on language learning and social media interactions.
For more information, visit the full articles from Business Insider and SCMP.