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As millions of U.S. TikTok users flock to Chinese-language social app RedNote in light of a possible TikTok ban<\/a>, more Americans are trying to learn Chinese than ever.<\/p>\n Duolingo, a language learning app used by millions<\/a>, reported on Wednesday that it had seen a 216% growth in new Mandarin Chinese learners in the U.S. this week compared to last year.<\/p>\n “Learning Mandarin out of spite?” Duolingo stated in a post on X<\/a>. “You’re not alone.”<\/p>\n Learning Mandarin out of spite? You’re not alone.<\/p>\n We’ve seen a ~216% growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year. https:\/\/t.co\/9hzwBxfTgD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qWM9f5oFYA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Duolingo (@duolingo) January 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The organic push to learn Mandarin arrives at a time when a Chinese-language app is burgeoning in popularity. Reuters<\/a> reported on Thursday that in just one day, from Sunday to Monday, nearly 3 million new users joined RedNote.<\/p>\n The app is a Chinese TikTok alternative<\/a> that includes short videos, images, shopping, and more. While TikTok is owned by ByteDance, RedNote is owned by Xingyin Information Technology.<\/p>\n Related: <\/b>‘More Than Marketing Tools’: Some Business Owners Are Worried About the Possible TikTok Ban<\/a><\/p>\n Data obtained by Reuters<\/a> from research company Sensor Tower showed that U.S. downloads of RedNote were up 200% year-over-year. As of Wednesday, RedNote was the top social app<\/a> on the Google Play store, up from its position of number 162 last year.<\/p>\n RedNote’s influx of new users, and Duolingo’s uptick in Mandarin Chinese learners, can both be explained by TikTok users looking for alternatives when faced with a possible TikTok ban.<\/p>\n A U.S. law passed in April<\/a> ordered ByteDance to sell TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a ban on the platform. Though the Supreme Court could halt the law before the Jan. 19 deadline, as of Thursday, it had not yet released a decision.<\/p>\n Related: <\/b>Is TikTok Considering Selling Its U.S. Business to Elon Musk? Here’s What TikTok Says.<\/a><\/p>\n TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users are now trying to find other social media avenues, including RedNote. The move from one Chinese app to another is a clear message that there is demand in the U.S. for Chinese social media apps, per TechCrunch<\/a>.<\/p>\n TikTok stated in a court filing<\/a> last month that a ban would cost U.S. creators and small businesses an estimated $1.3 billion in one month.<\/p>\n U.S. use of TikTok was down 2.1% week-over-week ahead of the possible ban, down to about 82.2 million daily active users, according to Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n