China apps fade in US as TikTok returns on Apple, Google app stores
ByteDance's TikTok is back on US mobile phones, spelling bad news for Chinese companies. Since its relisting on Apple's App Store and Google Play five days ago, downloads of Chinese apps like Xiaohongshu have plummeted 91%, according to Sensor Tower data reported by Bloomberg.
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TikTok's return follows a brief disappearance from app stores on January 18, after ByteDance halted US services due to government demands for divestment. During this time, Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu (also known as Rednote) gained popularity, attracting nearly 500,000 American TikTok users protesting the government ban. Other rivals like YouTube, Snap, Facebook, and Instagram also benefited from TikTok's temporary absence.
However, with TikTok's return, the app has more than doubled its usual downloads, according to the report.
President Donald Trump rescued Tiktok in January, one of his first orders after retaking office. The company thanked Trump for providing assurances to it and its business partners that they would not face hefty fines to keep the app running. The app and website were operational but were still not available for download in the Apple and Google app stores for weeks. They were back in the stores on February 14.
While signing an executive order, Trump said that he «could see» the US government taking a 50% stake in TikTok and as part of that
