The sudden proposal to ban TikTok and RedNote’s rise to take its place, perfectly illustrate just how quickly apps can come out of nowhere, dominate our feeds, and then suddenly disappear or reappear in certain regions and networks. For many service providers and enterprises, these shifts spark pressing questions: How do we stay in control of what’s happening on our network? How do we understand the impact of new or little-known apps that seem to explode in popularity overnight? How do we prevent new apps from creating new peaks and affecting subscriber quality of experience (QoE)
The App Evolution Dilemma
When we talk about “app awareness,” most people instinctively think of the top social, streaming, or messaging platforms—TikTok, Netflix, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. But the online landscape is much broader, and it changes at lightning speed. Today’s obscure app could be tomorrow’s phenomenon.
Consider Xiaohongshu (known as RedNote in the US). It might not be on everyone’s radar like TikTok, but it has been gaining steady traction over the past couple of weeks when TikTok users started looking for a new refuge due to the impending ban of their favourite app. If you’re monitoring only the usual suspects, you might not catch an app like RedNote until it’s racking up thousands of users and gigabytes of data—leaving you blindsided when a new wave of traffic, especially if it impacts subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE) on your network.
Enter AppLogic: Your Early-Warning System
The good news is you don’t have to live in the dark about the apps that people are using on your network, meaning you can get ahead of your operations, planning and investments. Sandvine’s AppLogic stands out by classifying not just the big names, but over 3,500 applications right out of the box—and that number is constantly growing.
- Depth & Breadth
With thousands of apps already recognized, we’re equipped to handle everything from mainstream platforms to those that are still niche. This robust classification means you’re covered for numerous use cases - Rapid Updates
Our classification engine is regularly updated to reflect emerging trends and new apps. We don’t wait for them to become mainstream before adding them to our database; we’re proactively scanning for what’s next, so you can stay informed. - Actionable Intelligence and QoE
AppLogic doesn’t just give you a name; it offers deep insights into each app’s traffic patterns. This intelligence helps you make informed decisions from how each application affects the network and the application experience on the network. - Future-Proof Approach
Because our technology evolves alongside the app ecosystem, you won’t be caught off-guard every time a new sensation surfaces giving service providers the insights needed to stay ahead.
From TikTok to Xiaohongshu (RedNote): Staying One Step Ahead
Let’s bring it back to TikTok. The chaos around its bans and security concerns taught an important lesson: apps can rise or fall – overnight.
With AppLogic, you can remain calm and confident, knowing you’ve got a system that:
- Identifies the traffic through comprehensive classification
- Measures network impact through App QoE
- Offers policy controlsto react swiftly
That same proactive approach applies to Xiaohongshu, commonly called RedNote in some markets. Because AppLogic already provides classification for Xiaohongshu out of the box, understanding and managing this emerging trend is straightforward for our customers. You get immediate visibility into how much traffic it’s generating, which demographics are using it, and whether it poses any risk to your network or data privacy standards.
The cornerstone of it all is visibility. Without a clear view of what’s happening on your network, you’re flying blind. During the few hours when TikTok went dark on January 19th , AppLogic powered networks were able to see how the trend of Social Media applications shifted and the growth of RedNote to over 500% in terms of subscribers, as compared to the previous week.
RedNote did not just garner subscribers but also succeeded in capturing close to 15% of traffic volume share from TikTok when the social media giant went offline for a few hours- no small feat for an app which was almost at 0% volume just a week ago.
Embrace the Unexpected
If the TikTok ban has taught us anything, it’s that we should expect the unexpected when it comes to applications. Modern networks require dynamic, adaptable solutions that can pivot as quickly as the market. Through AppLogic, we’re proud to provide exactly that: comprehensive, real-time application intelligence that helps you maintain visibility, optimize network performance, and rest easier knowing you have the foresight to handle tomorrow’s “it” app—whatever it may be called.
Because whether it’s TikTok or RedNote, with Sandvine’s AppLogic, you’ll see it coming before it takes you by surprise.
To learn more about how AppLogic can help you, contact us today.
Topics: Quality of Experience, TikTok, App QoE, App Quality of Experience
