US interest in Mandarin rises as likely TikTok ban boosts Chinese alternative
As the possibility of a TikTok ban looms, a surprising trend has emerged: a surge of interest in learning Mandarin. Google searches for “learn Mandarin” are skyrocketing, and language learning app Duolingo has reported a 216% increase in U.S. users starting Chinese lessons.
This trend coincides with the Jan. 19 deadline for a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. As Straight Arrow News previously reported, the Chinese social media app Rednote, also known as Xiaohongshu, has climbed to the top of app store charts.
Rednote, similar to TikTok, features short-form video content and community-driven engagement. However, most of the app’s features are in Mandarin, leading some users, playfully dubbed “TikTok refugees,” to brush up on their language skills.
The rise of Mandarin?
Mandarin is already one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide. This recent surge in interest highlights its increasing importance, as users prepare for a potential shift in their digital habits.
Experts say the Mandarin craze, while linked to such shifts, offers lifelong benefits. Learning a new language improves cognitive skills, and opens doors in an increasingly interconnected world.
For some, learning Mandarin may be a way to maintain connections in a world where new platforms, like Rednote, may dominate.
However, not everyone is sold on switching to Rednote. Despite its rise in popularity, users have raised concerns over privacy, strict content moderation and the language barrier, which may limit its appeal to non-Mandarin speakers.
Whether or not the TikTok ban happens, the growing interest in Mandarin highlights the evolving relationship between digital platforms, language and culture.
Trump eyes executive order to save TikTok as ban nears: Reports
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly weighing action to delay TikTok’s looming ban as the app’s deadline to sell approaches. Congress passed a law last year requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its American assets, citing national security concerns.
The ban will reportedly take effect Sunday, Jan. 19, unless lawmakers take action.
The potential ban sparked concern among TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users. Many rely on the app for income and content creation. Analysts highlighted risks, including the potential rise of unregulated Chinese alternatives with similar security issues.
Trump’s incoming administration expressed a willingness to address security concerns while preserving the platform.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew plans to attend Trump’s inauguration. Trump invited him to sit “in a position of honor on the dais, where former presidents, family members, and other important guests traditionally are seated,” according to reports. This development marks a significant shift in Trump’s relationship with TikTok. His first administration sought to ban the platform outright.
Reports indicated Trump warmed to TikTok after his campaign saw a surge in popularity on the app during the 2024 election.
Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said, “TikTok itself is a fantastic platform. We’re going to find a way to preserve it but protect people’s data, and that’s the deal that will be in front of us.”
Outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration also explored ways to soften the ban’s impact during its final days. Officials reportedly considered options to avoid an immediate shutdown. This includes measures to allow the app to continue operating temporarily while ensuring compliance with the law.
TikTok challenged the divestiture requirement in court, arguing it violates the First Amendment right to free speech.
The Supreme Court heard arguments last week and appeared poised to uphold the law. Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to postpone the ban for 60-90 days to allow further negotiations.
Biden’s administration has not committed to blocking the ban but delayed immediate enforcement. Biden’s allies, including lawmakers like Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called on the White House to extend the timeline.
“I’m hopeful that President Biden will listen to the millions of voices who don’t want the lights to go out on this app,” Khanna said.
Congressional supporters of the ban argued TikTok’s ties to Beijing pose risks to user data and content control.
Chief Justice John Roberts, during Supreme Court arguments, pointed to Congress’ finding that TikTok’s parent company is subject to Chinese laws, saying, “So are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?”
TikTok plans for Sunday shutdown, US employees to stay on payroll after ban
Unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes, TikTok plans to shut down for U.S. users on Sunday, Jan. 19, according to company insiders who spoke with The Information. The long-anticipated TikTok ban in the U.S. is just days away and new details are emerging about what that will look like for users. While the law banning TikTok would prevent new downloads of the app, existing users would still be able to access it for some time.
However, TikTok says under its plan, access will be disabled. Users who try to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban. The company will also offer users the option to download their data.
If the ban goes into effect and is later lifted, TikTok sources say they will be able to bring the app back online quickly.
TikTok has also reassured its U.S. employees that their jobs will remain safe, even if the app is shut down.
In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, the company confirmed that “employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline.”
This comes after a law signed by President Joe Biden last year, which gives TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, until Jan. 19 to sell its U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns.
During oral arguments on the TikTok case last week, some analysts suggested that the Supreme Court is likely to uphold the ban, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s calls for a delay.
TikTok currently has 170 million users in the U.S. The app is already partially or completely banned in more than a dozen countries, including the European Union.
Another Chinese app rises in popularity in the US as TikTok ban looms
With a TikTok ban possibly hitting the United States in less than a week, another Chinese social media app is quickly gaining traction. Xiaohongshu, known as “RedNote” in English, surged to the top spot among free apps in the Apple App Store on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The app launched in 2013 and has 300 million monthly users. It checks a lot of the boxes TikTok users are looking for in an alternative to share and consume content, including short-form videos, images, community engagement and shopping features.
Chinese users on the app have welcomed American users with the hashtag “TikTok refugees,” which is getting millions of views and comments.
Some content creators are hoping to rebuild communities they had on TikTok, as others are moving to the app to protest the U.S. government.
TikTok’s looming shutdown largely comes from national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
RedNote is owned by a Shanghai-based company, Xingyin Information Technology.
What issues will arise with users moving to another Chinese app?
More scrutiny from the U.S. government over privacy and data concerns is likely to follow, similar to ByteDance.
Some who haven’t been as eager to download RedNote have raised concerns about its terms of service.
Part of the document states the company can use user data without authorization when it’s “necessary for the performance of statutory duties or obligations.” This means the company may be required to use user data to fulfill legal responsibilities or to comply with government regulations.
In China, internet and social media companies are required to comply with all requests from the communist government.
RedNote’s terms of service also state the company can use user data to “carry out news reporting and supervision by public opinion for the public interest” and in “other circumstances provided by laws and regulations.” This means user data can be shared with journalists and in situations that aren’t specifically listed without permission.
Yahoo News talked with digital safety experts who said since RedNote is relatively unknown in the U.S., it should be “approached with caution.”
The founder of fraud protection platform Hitprobe, John Jackson, told Yahoo that RedNote doesn’t have the same level of child protection that other apps have, saying it’s “an unsafe platform for young people to use.”
Another issue is user experience. Many Americans who joined the app are relying on translation tools to navigate the Chinese platform, which is different from TikTok since it was created for a global audience.
If ByteDance does not sell TikTok by Jan. 19, the app will be illegal for distribution through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
China floats Elon Musk as possible future owner of US TikTok: Report
Chinese officials are weighing options for TikTok as the popular short-form video app faces an outright ban in the U.S. on Jan. 19. One possible option they are discussing is selling its U.S. operations to X owner Elon Musk, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The Chinese government would “strongly” prefer TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, remain the app’s owner, according to Bloomberg sources. But they have discussed Musk’s X taking over TikTok’s U.S. arm as a possible contingency.
Bloomberg said it is unclear whether Musk, X, TikTok or ByteDance are involved in these discussions with Chinese government officials.
Despite his ownership of a rival social media platform, Musk has adamantly maintained that TikTok shouldn’t be banned.
In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the USA, even though such a ban may benefit the 𝕏 platform.
Doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression. It is not what America stands for.
“In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the USA, even though such a ban may benefit the X platform,” Musk posted in April. “Doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression. It is not what America stands for.”
Musk has had positive dealings with the Chinese government as part of his role as CEO of Tesla.
Recently, President-elect Donald Trump said TikTok has a “warm spot” in his heart, despite being the first president to propose banning the app on national security concerns during his first administration.
“We’ll take a look at TikTok,” he said in December. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points. And there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it.”
Based on a Tufts University analysis of Associated Press data, Vice President Kamala Harris won the under-30 vote by four points, though Trump did make major gains in the age group and won under-30 men by 14 points, a group he lost in 2020.
In recent months, ByteDance hoped the situation could be resolved in the courts. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether the ban should be upheld.
The people cited in Bloomberg’s report said Beijing may get more involved in the negotiations, despite ByteDance’s repeated claims it operates independently from the Chinese government. Chinese officials see it as an opportunity to work with the Trump administration, with promises of tariffs and export controls on the docket.
A day before the Supreme Court heard arguments over TikTok, billionaire and former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s group put in a formal bid to take over the app.
The People’s Bid for TikTok also includes investor Kevin O’Leary and has been in the works since May 2024. The value of that offer wasn’t made public but McCourt has said he doesn’t need the highly coveted algorithm as part of the deal, which could significantly decrease the value of U.S. operations.
American Dialect Society reveals 2024 words of the year
Words like “rawdogging,” “brainrot” and “brat” are among the American Dialect Society’s picks for words of the year for 2024. The group of hundreds of linguistics scholars voted on words or phrases that defined 2024 in a range of different categories, including the informal, political and digital words of the year, the most creative word of the year, and the “most fun while it lasted” category for short-lived but impactful trends.
“Rawdogging,” the term for doing an activity without the usual preparation, like taking a long flight without looking at any entertainment, won for both Word of the Year and “informal word of the year.”
Most of the nominees had ties to a big moment or cultural trend in the year gone by.
The Luigi prefix, a reference to Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, won “political word of the year.” It gained traction in December as a subset of Americans expressed their sympathy with Mangione’s apparent cause of calling out common health insurance industry practices.
And “brat,” a nod to singer Charli XCX’s album of the same name, referring to the confident, hedonistic attitude of her music and lyrics, was the winner for “most fun while it lasted.”
Other winners included lock in, meaning to deeply focus, as most useful; unserious as most likely to succeed; and “brainrot” won digital word of the year, as the term became popular for describing both low-value media and its effects on consumers.
Supreme Court justices express concern about ‘secret evidence’ in TikTok case
Two Supreme Court justices expressed concern about redacted evidence the government presented in the TikTok case, which attorneys for the app were not able to review. According to an attorney representing TikTok users, the evidence is classified and a lower court agreed to make its decision solely based on the public record.
“I’m concerned about the government’s attempt to lodge secret evidence in this case without providing any mechanism for opposing counsel to review it,” Justice Neil Gorsuch said. “I noted that there are mechanisms to read in counsel and that other countries, including our allies, often do that.”
The subject was first raised when Gorsuch asked the attorney representing TikTok a question that he could not answer.
“Well, Your Honor, the problem there is everything that follows what you just read is redacted, and so I don’t know what it says,” Noel Francisco of Jones Day, which represents TikTok, said.
Gorsuch later said the government has made an increased number of appeals to secret evidence in recent years and therefore it’s something Congress should pay attention to.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar made reference to a sealed appendix while she was making her case before the justices. She never said exactly what it contained, she gave a brief overview and urged the justices to read it.
“If you look at that information, it was a wealth of data about Americans that was going to have to go back to China in order for the platform to just continue its basic operations,” Prelogar said.
Prelogar went on to explain that there was factual evidence to show that even when the company said it walled off its U.S. data from China, employees at TikTok’s parent company in China surveilled U.S. journalists in an attempt to learn who was leaking information from inside the company.
“You get to look at it, but your friends on the other side don’t get to look at it,” Chief Justice John Roberts responded to Prelogar. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
“That’s the sealed appendix, Mr. Chief Justice,” Pregolar responded. “So it’s their information. They can look at it. It’s just under seal to protect their proprietary business information.”
Supreme Court casts serious doubt on TikTok’s free speech arguments
Supreme Court justices cast serious doubt on TikTok’s free speech arguments in a case that will decide the future of an app that is used by 170 million Americans. TikTok is fighting a law passed by Congress last year that requires its parent company to sell the app or be prohibited from operating in the United States.
The justices were skeptical from the very beginning, when Justice Clarence Thomas asked the app’s lawyers, “What is TikTok’s speech?”
The attorneys argued their speech is their algorithm, which suggests content for users based on their personal traits, preferences and consumption habits. Thomas responded by saying they are converting the restriction on ByteDance’s ownership of the app as TikTok’s speech.
Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out that the free speech argument does not address Congress’ stated intention for passing the law.
“It seems to me that you’re ignoring the major concern here of Congress which was Chinese manipulation of the content and acquisition and harvesting of the content,” Roberts said.
“I don’t think you are supposed to ignore that at all, but I also don’t think that it changes the analysis,” said Noel John Francisco of Jones Day, which represents TikTok.
“I don’t know if it’s directly affecting the company’s speech or the speech of third parties,” Roberts said.
The law is often described as a TikTok ban, although that’s not technically accurate. The law prohibits distributing, maintaining or providing internet hosting services for an app that’s under the control of a foreign adversary. In this case, the app is TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a company based in China, the foreign adversary.
If ByteDance sold the app to an American company, TikTok would be allowed to operate in the United States exactly as it does today.
“TikTok can continue to operate on its own algorithm, on its own terms, as long as it’s not associated with ByteDance. So isn’t this really just all about association?” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson proposed to TikTok’s attorneys.
Jackson then cited arguments from government attorneys who said the real problem is foreign adversaries manipulating content that is shown to Americans.
“Are you saying those are not compelling government interests?” Jackson asked.
“I am 100% saying that content manipulation is not just not a compelling governmental interest, it is an impermissible governmental interest,” Francisco said.
Arguing on behalf of the federal government, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the law has a “laser-like focus” on the national security threat.
“No one disputes that the [People’s Republic of China] seeks to undermine U.S. interests by amassing vast quantities of sensitive data about Americans, and by engaging in covert influence operations,” Prelogar said. “And no one disputes that the PRC pursues those goals by compelling companies like ByteDance to secretly turn over data and carry out PRC directives.”
Those realities mean that the Chinese government could weaponize TikTok at any time to harm the United States.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar
The justices also pointed out holes in the government’s case, particularly the argument that content manipulation would be covert.
“If you just mean what’s covert is the fact that there’s China behind it, I mean, honestly, really, like everybody does know now that there’s China behind it,” Justice Elena Kagan said.
Justice Gorsuch questioned Prelogar’s reasoning that manipulated content could be harmful.
“If that’s true, then wouldn’t that be true for all social media companies for all content,” Justice Gorsuch asked.
If the TikTok ban takes effect Jan. 19, current users will still have the app on their phone and will likely be able to use it.
The law prohibits new downloads and updates. So it should keep working for current users until they update their phone, which will make it no longer compatible with the phone’s operating system, at which point it will stop working.
At least 10 dead as major wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
The death toll rises as the onslaught of fires continues in Southern California, destroying complete neighborhoods. And President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced for his conviction in the New York hush money case after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid to stop the proceeding. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Death toll rises as wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
Flames have destroyed entire neighborhoods, obliterating 10,000 homes and buildings between the Palisades and Eaton Fires alone. Firefighters made some progress as the Santa Ana winds weakened, but wind and dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend. This will make it difficult for crews to battle the flames.
The biggest and most destructive fire in Pacific Palisades now spans nearly 20,000 acres, which is more than 30 square miles and is only 6% contained.
Nearly 180,000 people in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders and another 200,000 are on standby to leave their homes if necessary. The wildfires and strong winds fueling them have led to mass power outages.
Entire stretches of Pacific Ocean beachfront property along Malibu have been charred, as well as homes and neighborhoods up and down the Pacific Coast Highway.
The latest fire to break out, the Kenneth Fire, sparked Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near Calabasas. That fire spans 1,000 acres and is 35% contained, according to CalFire’s last update. Police arrested one man on suspicion of arson in connection with that fire.
It’s not just those in the fires’ paths in danger. Polluted air poses a threat even to those far away.
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to halt sentencing in hush money case
Trump’s sentencing on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels will proceed as planned.
The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, said earlier this month he would not sentence the president-elect to prison time, saying incarceration is not an option.
Instead, the judge is expected to impose a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge.
Trump vowed to appeal his conviction, claiming evidence and testimony was admitted that implicated his duties as president during his first term. The Supreme Court ruled over the summer presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for some official acts.
Appeals court allows release of election interference case report
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected a bid to block the release but kept in place the judge’s order for a three-day delay, giving time for additional appeals. That means Trump could seek the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the election interference case was eventually dismissed following his victory in November’s presidential election due to a Justice Department policy that forbids the prosecution of a sitting president.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he plans to release the report to the public once he is permitted to do so. In response, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said Thursday night that it’s time for Garland and President Joe Biden to “do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our justice system.”
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in TikTok ban case
With less than two weeks until a ban on the social media app TikTok is slated to take effect, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments against the legislation Friday, Jan. 10. TikTok looks to show the justices that, despite claims from the federal government, it is not a national security threat to the U.S.
It is unclear when the court will deliver its ruling.
TikTok faces a nationwide ban in the U.S. that is expected to go into effect on Jan. 19, impacting roughly 115 million monthly users. That is unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform, as required by the law signed by President Joe Biden last year, or SCOTUS rules in favor of TikTok’s position that the law is unconstitutional.
Supporters of the ban believe the app allows China to access vast amounts of data from Americans and possibly influence public opinion in the U.S.
Trump opposes the ban and has met with TikTok’s CEO in recent weeks.
Macy’s to close 66 stores
Macy’s confirmed it will close 66 stores across the U.S. The department store chain said Thursday that the move is part of its “bold new chapter” strategy, which was announced in February of last year. The strategy will see the closure of approximately 150 underperforming stores, or about a third of its locations, over a three-year period.
Tony Spring, the retailer’s chairman and CEO, said that while “closing any store is never easy,” this will allow the company to focus its “resources and prioritize investments” in its other locations.
Macy’s told Axios clearance sales will begin this month and run for up to 12 weeks.
Friends, family remember President Jimmy Carter at state funeral in Washington
Family, friends and fellow lawmakers honored former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, a National Day of Mourning, during a state funeral in Washington, D.C. All five surviving presidents attended the service at the National Cathedral.
President Joe Biden, who declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning, delivered a eulogy for his late friend.
“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me and through his life taught me the strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. It’s a strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity. Respect that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot, not a guarantee, but just a shot. You know, we have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor. And to stand up to — my dad used to say was the greatest sin of all — the abuse of power. That’s not about being perfect as none of us are perfect. We’re all fallible. But it’s about asking ourselves ‘Are we striving to do things, the right things? What value, what are the values that animate our spirit? Do we operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it’s most tested?’ Or keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter’s life.”
Carter’s grandchildren also spoke about their late grandfather.
“They were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives,” Jason Carter said. “But I recognize that we are not here because he was just a regular guy. As you’ve heard from the other speakers, his political life and his presidency for me was not just ahead of its time, it was prophetic. He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles, even when they were politically unpopular.”
Following a private funeral in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, Carter was laid to rest next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
As the future of TikTok hangs in the balance, creators are flocking to Lemon8, an increasingly popular social media app. The app has been gaining attention for its unique blend of features.
Lemon8 combines TikTok’s short-form videos with Pinterest and Instagram-like feeds. Owned by ByteDance, the same parent company as TikTok, Lemon8 is often referred to as TikTok’s sister app.
Lemon8 focuses on visual aesthetics and personal storytelling. Popular content categories include fashion, beauty, fitness, travel and food. The platform is designed to foster a sense of community while encouraging creativity.
ByteDance ownership raises concerns
However, Lemon8’s future is not guaranteed. Since ByteDance owns both Lemon8 and TikTok, the app could face regulatory scrutiny similar to TikTok’s if the U.S. government increases pressure on the company.
Another app impacted by the ongoing ByteDance controversy is CapCut. The all-in-one video editing and graphic design tool is popular among social media creators. CapCut offers features like green screens, transitions and video templates, making it easy to create polished content.
Its seamless integration with TikTok and other platforms has made it a go-to tool for content creators.
TikTok ban deadline approaches
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to block a law passed last April calling for a potential ban on the massively popular social media app. For TikTok to avoid the ban, ByteDance must divest its U.S. operations. However, if that doesn’t happen, the ban could take effect as soon as Jan. 19.