Duolingo sees 216% spike in US users learning Chinese amid TikTok ban and move to RedNote

US users learning Mandarin via Duolingo surged due to a shift to RedNote amid TikTok's impending ban.

: Duolingo experienced a 216% rise in Mandarin learners from the US as TikTok users migrated to RedNote due to the app ban. The US government plans to enforce the TikTok ban by January 19, driving over 700 million users to RedNote. This migration sparks cultural exchanges and questions about data privacy, with Duolingo's popularity reflecting the heightened interest in Chinese language skills.

A significant shift in social media dynamics has led to a 216% increase in US users learning Mandarin on Duolingo, as driven by TikTok's prospective ban. Following the legislative plans to ban TikTok by January 19, an influx of over 700 million users has turned to RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social app.

This trend has not only reflected a cultural exchange but also raised questions regarding data privacy concerns around Chinese apps. Many users seem indifferent to potential privacy threats, focusing instead on the engaging social experiences offered by these platforms.

Duolingo's increased installation rates, with a 36% boost reported by Appfigures, align with this rising demand for Mandarin language skills. Rankings for Duolingo have improved, placing its app number 22 in Top Overall and number 20 in Top Apps.