US interest in Mandarin rises as likely TikTok ban boosts Chinese alternative

[KENNEDY FELTON]

As many prepare for an end to TikTok, we’re seeing a strange side effect: a growing interest in learning Mandarin. Searches for “learn Mandarin” are surging, and Duolingo is reporting a 216-percent increase in U.S. users diving into Chinese lessons.

This trend coincides with the looming January 19th deadline for a potential TikTok ban. As we told you earlier this week, the Chinese social media app Rednote – also known as Xiaohongshu – recently climbed to the top of App Store charts. Similar to TikTok, Rednote features short-form video content and community-driven engagement. However, most of its features are in Mandarin – which may explain why some users playfully dubbed “TikTok refugees” are brushing up on their language skills.

[DUOLINGO TIKTOK SNIPPET “Everyone say ‘Welcome TikTok refugee.’”]

Duolingo is a free language learning app known for its playful online presence. On Tuesday, the app cheekily posted, “Oh so *now you’re learning Mandarin.”

Mandarin is already one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but this recent spike shows it’s not just about numbers – it’s about staying connected as people prepare for a potential shift in their digital habits.

“Somebody ask Duolingo how many people switched to Mandarin in the last couple of days.”

It turns out quite a few. On Wednesday, Duolingo shared they’ve seen a 216-percent spike in U.S. users learning Mandarin compared to this time last year.

Google Trends data backs this up, showing searches for “learn Mandarin” reaching a peak popularity score of 100 – up from just 25 earlier this month.

But not everybody is sold on switching over to Rednote. While the app has climbed to the top of charts, some users are hesitant about switching platforms, citing concerns over privacy and data. Some users have even reported their accounts being banned, raising questions about how strictly Rednote monitors its content. Even further, the language barrier may limit the app’s appeal to some.

Whether or not the Mandarin craze is tied to a potential TikTok ban, multiple experts say learning a new language offers lifelong benefits, from improving cognitive skills to opening doors in a globally connected world.