Duolingo registers increase in Mandarin learners amid TikTok ban in the US (Photo: appshunter.io/Unsplash)
As TikTok will be banned in the US next Sunday (19), American internet users are looking for alternative social media platforms. And, surprisingly, Duolingo is involved in this shift.
It seems that, among the short-video platforms, Americans are intentionally migrating to another Chinese social media as an act of rebellion against the US government.
The social media platform in question is Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, which is filled with Chinese users and has recently been taken over by Americans “exiled” from TikTok. Many of them are enjoying the platform so much that Duolingo has reported a 216% increase in Mandarin learners in the country.
oh so NOW you’re learning mandarin
— Duolingo (@duolingo) January 14, 2025
As a result, it appears the US government’s move backfired. The reason TikTok is being banned is that the US government believes the app threatens its sovereignty, alleging that it is being used by China for data theft.
TikTok has vehemently denied the claim, but even if TikTok is banned, the damage is already done, and Americans have fallen in love with another Chinese social media platform. So, if the goal was to prevent “data theft,” it seems that the measure won’t be very effective.
Photo and video: Unsplash and X @duolingo. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
