"First of all, the Chinese are so nice, they're so sweet and so welcoming. They've over here teaching us Mandarin."

Millions are joining RedNote ahead of the TikTok ban. But the app’s default language is Mandarin. “Oh so NOW you’re learning mandarin,” Duolingo tweeted on Monday.

Duolingo has seen a surge in U.S. Mandarin learners as TikTok users explore Chinese social app RedNote amid a looming ban.

With the TikTok ban upheld, advertisers are implementing contingency plans. But they hope the app returns as Meta and Google aren't true replacements.

All signs point to TikTok shutting down in the United States on Sunday due to the ban that's set to go into effect after the platform failed to find a new

Many Americans are joining RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, as a potential TikTok ban looms in the US. As they hop from TikTok to RedNote, some of the so-called TikTok refugees are learning Mandarin to bridge the language divide on the Chinese app.

As many Americans flock to RedNote ahead of a possible TikTok ban, Duolingo and Drops have seen an increase in US users learning Chinese.

Yes, the language-learning app has been the big winner amid TikTok’s impending demise and it’s mostly due to spite. According to the app, Duolingo has seen a 216 percent growth in users learning Mandarin Chinese over the last year, which is tied to the growing popularity of RedNote.

The logos for TikTok and RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, are seen in this illustration taken Jan 15, 2025. [Photo/Agencies] SACRAMENTO, United States - Driven by fears of a potential TikTok ban starting Jan 19,

"I almost, like, don't know how to define myself without TikTok," content creator Ayman Chaudhary sighed, reflecting the consternation of millions over US authorities' scheduled banning Sunday of the hugely popular app.

Creators and users are searching for new platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other alternatives.