Is the Great Migration from TikTok to RedNote a Good Idea?

As the days draw closer to the potential “TikTok Ban,” apps like RedNote have seen a significant uptick in their user base within the last 72 hours. However, are these new users fully aware of the platform’s terms and conditions? Currently, RedNote is still transitioning to English to accommodate its growing English-speaking audience, but many features remain incomplete, leaving users to translate legal notes on their own.

Our investigation revealed that Americans and Brits may not fully understand what they’re signing up for. With the steady decline of Meta’s stock and Mark Zuckerberg facing backlash for his recent attempts to regain user trust, it’s clear that if TikTok disappears, social media may hit a standstill. Call it desperation, call it shortsightedness, but it’s far from revolutionary when users are willing to compromise their data privacy just to post videos and doomscroll.

Is the issue that we lack the ability to come together? Hardly. Facebook groups, for instance, have successfully united small and large communities worldwide for decades. This isn’t a plug for Facebook, but rather an attempt to understand why so many people are willing to risk their data for an app. Yes, some argue, “Facebook and other platforms already use our data,” which is true. But did you know that if those platforms mishandle your data, you can join a class-action lawsuit and potentially receive compensation?

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Apps like TikTok and RedNote, or any platform owned by ByteDance, revoke your ability to sue the company if they mishandle, steal, or use your data without your permission or in ways not explicitly approved by you, the creator. For instance, if you're an artist selling your work on these platforms, did you know you're granting them legal permission to use your art commercially? They could print your designs on merchandise sold on platforms like Temu or Shein without compensating you, the original creator.

Many businesses have seen incredible growth in sales through TikTok, but there’s a significant chance that their ideas are being resold in other markets without proper credit or compensation. Moreover, RedNote’s terms and conditions state that if your account is hacked, you remain responsible for any activity carried out by the account. For example, if a hacker uses your account to organize illegal activities, you could be held liable as the account holder.

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Irrevocable License: Even if you delete your account, the platform retains the rights to your content indefinitely.

Third-Party Use: These apps can sublicense your content to third parties, potentially allowing companies to use your likeness in AI-generated commercials. This is already happening on TikTok, and creators who speak out about it often face suppression—videos addressing the issue are removed or de-prioritized in the algorithm. Even with legal representation, cases against these platforms are often dismissed because users have agreed to these terms upon signing up.

Commercial Use Without Compensation: Just like other platforms, ByteDance may use your content in advertisements for their apps without paying you.

For instance, a creator shared a story about being flown first-class to Los Angeles for a Best Buy commercial after tweeting about a gift she bought her father in 2019. However, this level of recognition is rare and often not the case for most users whose content is used commercially without acknowledgment or payment.

She went on to say that they were given the royal treatment and compensated $2,500 each for their participation in the commercial. When the commercial aired during the holidays, they received additional royalties totaling $25,000 each. Now, do you really want to miss out on the chance to potentially earn nearly $30,000 while putting your time and energy into creating content that an algorithm will decide whether or not to make viral?

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Whether you’re filming an unboxing video or a brand review that the brand didn’t pay you for, they can simply pay the app to use your video in their commercials—saving themselves thousands, if not millions, in production costs. While there is widespread uproar about the use of AI in marketing, social media apps have been engaging in similar practices for years. These platforms help the rich stay rich while cutting jobs in production—from camera operators to makeup artists. So why isn’t there more outrage about these apps? And keep in mind, you’ll never be able to sue or bring a class action lawsuit against them, as they are not American companies.

In conclusion, while the "great migration" to platforms like RedNote may seem appealing, it’s worth considering the potential consequences down the line. If you end up seeing yourself in a Chinese commercial, well... congratulations in advance.

by Stephanie E.