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

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

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.

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

TikTok U.S. users have been learning Chinese on Duolingo in increasing numbers amid their adoption of a Chinese social app called RedNote ahead of the

TikTok could be banned in the US, rendering the app unusable and removing it from app stores. Instead of making do with Instagram Reels, people looked for a closer alternative and found Chinese social media app "RedNote" or Xiaohongshu,

The language-learning app Duolingo has seen a surprising trend emerge, the closer we get to the TikTok ban -- there's been a 216% spike in US users learning Mandarin compared to this time last year.

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.

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,

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