This app is going to replace TikTok after the ban in USA?
Hello there,
How’s your January shaping up so far? We’re only 15 days into the year, and there’s already so much happening!
Let’s kick things off with this week’s update.
What’s popping this week:
China’s RedNote app to replace TikTok after ban?
As a potential U.S. ban on TikTok looms, American TikTok enthusiasts are flocking to another Chinese short-form social media platform: Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” now being dubbed "RedNote."
On Monday, RedNote surged to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store downloads, drawing comparisons to Pinterest with a blend of Instagram and TikTok features, alongside integrated social shopping tools. With 300 million monthly active users, the app has been around since 2013 and boasts significant investor backing, having raised $917 million in venture capital and achieving a valuation of $17 billion.
Despite its newfound American user base, RedNote has made minimal efforts to cater to the U.S. market. Users must manually switch the app’s default language from Mandarin to English. TikTok itself has become a hub for users sharing their experiences with RedNote, with many noting the irony of replacing one Chinese app with another following national security concerns.
TikTok’s fate remains uncertain, with the Supreme Court expected to rule on its future this week. If the ban proceeds, TikTok could be removed from app stores by January 19, leaving users with degraded app functionality or limited access to new content. President-elect Donald Trump may attempt to delay the ban’s implementation after taking office, though success is uncertain.
PVMA’s amazing strategy for launching their new brand ambassador
No, it’s not a typo; it was completely intentional. You’ve likely seen the buzz about the "spelling error" at Puma stores, right? What initially seemed like a mistake turned out to be a genius marketing move.
The internet had a blast poking fun at the supposed blunder, with photos of the “misspelled” signboard circulating widely. Netizens flooded social media with hilarious comments, mocking the switch from "Puma" to "PVMA" at various Puma India stores. While many assumed it was an embarrassing oversight, others speculated it might be a clever campaign.
Turns out, it was the latter! Puma strategically replaced its signage to celebrate the announcement of badminton superstar PV Sindhu as its new brand ambassador. By transforming "Puma" into "PVMA," the company not only honored Sindhu but also executed a bold move that captured everyone’s attention.
This playful yet impactful strategy shows just how far a creative stunt can go in engaging audiences and solidifying a brand's presence online. It was a stroke of marketing brilliance that left everyone talking about PVMA and, of course, PV Sindhu.
Should you focus on Whatsapp marketing for your brand?
Until now, WhatsApp has been a relatively untapped marketing tool. However, the launch of WhatsApp ads could be a game-changer, making it an essential platform for marketers to consider.
Currently, businesses use two main tools: the WhatsApp for Business App, designed for small businesses, and the WhatsApp Business API, aimed at medium and large enterprises. While the app is suitable for smaller-scale operations with features like auto-responders and product catalogs, the API enables large-scale engagement with customers through notifications and interactive session windows.
With over 1.5 billion users globally, WhatsApp offers brands a unique opportunity to connect directly with their audience. Unlike other social media platforms, WhatsApp provides a more personalized, one-on-one communication channel, making it ideal for customer support and targeted messaging. For example, brands can send pre-approved notifications to users who opt-in or engage in a 24-hour session window to share images, videos, and documents.
X has rolled out labels for Parody accounts!
After weeks of testing, X has officially rolled out its new “Parody” account labels to reduce confusion about what’s being shared and by whom. These labels aim to address issues of impersonation and misinformation, ensuring users are aware when a profile is not the official account of a celebrity or brand.
As seen in the example, the new parody markers will be applied to both posts and accounts, clearly identifying content from parody profiles. This update ensures transparency and helps users distinguish between genuine accounts and imitative ones.
X has stated that these labels will soon become mandatory for parody accounts to comply with its Authenticity policy. According to X, “We’ll share details soon on when the label will become mandatory for parody accounts. These accounts, like all accounts on X, must still adhere to the X Rules.”
While this measure is a step in the right direction, some critics note that it may have been easier to avoid confusion by not selling verification checkmarks to anyone willing to pay. Nevertheless, with the parody labels now in place, X aims to create a safer and more transparent environment for users on the platform.
Social Media Updates
Threads is testing the ability to set a display name and add a cover image to your profile
You’ll be able to change your display name once a week (or more specifically, twice within a 14-day span), and any changes will only be reflected on Threads, in separation from your Instagram username.
YouTube’s looking to make it even easier to create Shorts, with a new option that will automatically clip the most engaging elements of longer-form videos into shorter bites.
Trending Audio’s
Reel of the week
Why this works?
That’s all for this week folks! We’ll see you again next week :)
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