It seems I have some unsettling news for those worried about China potentially surveilling us and harvesting our data via TikTok.

A significant shift is underway as many Americans are gravitating towards a genuine Chinese-owned social media platform, opting for it over familiar sites like Facebook or Instagram.

Yes, you heard that right. Rather than TikTok users going back to platforms run by Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, a huge number are downloading and diving into RedNote, a China-based app also referred to as Xiaohongshu. This means that American users who don’t understand Mandarin are relying on translation apps to navigate the platform.

And they are doing just that.

The rise of RedNote in the U.S. is undeniably ironic

As of Monday morning, RedNote has claimed the title of the most downloaded free app in Apple’s app store. In a twist of irony, Americans have crowned a Chinese app as the top free choice in the U.S. Apple App Store even as our leaders strive to safeguard us from the data practices of the Chinese government.

According to a translation from Google Translate, RedNote’s community guidelines encourage users to uphold “patriotism, collectivism, and socialism.” Quite striking for the most popular app in my American app store at the moment.

The irony and implications here are quite profound.

It appears tech billionaires and lawmakers in America are out of touch with what social media users actually desire. More and more, it seems clear that it’s not Meta’s outdated, ad-heavy algorithm that fails to feature engaging content.

It’s definitely not Musk’s take on “free speech” or social media, where even those aligned with MAGA can face consequences for criticizing Musk loudly.

I would venture to say that we are looking for alternatives to the disinformation landscape that Facebook and the platform formerly called Twitter are becoming, especially with Zuckerberg neglecting factuality and Musk acting as a conveyor of misinformation for MAGA supporters.

Meta’s issues have driven Americans to learn a new language

The movement towards RedNote is significant, even if it may be temporary. Americans are actively engaging with its posts and being welcomed into its community. Users on TikTok are humorously suggesting they might learn Mandarin to fully participate. I’ve even seen posts on RedNote featuring users teaching Mandarin or eager to practice their English skills.

It appears many of us are seeking a social media space that prioritizes a responsive algorithm and fosters creativity that others can interact with.

You may be surprised to learn that TikTok boasts some of the best in-app camera and editing capabilities in the industry, alongside a nearly flawless social media algorithm.

It seems Americans are open to giving a Chinese app a chance—even one that includes references to “socialism” in its policies—due to growing frustrations with the offerings from our homegrown tech moguls.

I don’t anticipate that Americans will make RedNote their primary social platform in the way they do with TikTok, primarily because the level of censorship is likely to be intense.

Nevertheless, the takeaway is evident: Feel free to ban TikTok if necessary, America. You may inadvertently motivate many of us to start learning Mandarin.

Louie Villalobos is Gannett’s director of Opinion. You may find him engaged in learning Mandarin if TikTok is banned.