Welcome again to Week in Overview. This week, we’re wanting on the impacts of the looming TikTok ban within the U.S., together with the “TikTok refugees” shifting to Chinese language app RedNote, the surge of English audio system studying Mandarin on Duolingo, and extra! Let’s get into it.
The Supreme Courtroom upheld the legislation that can successfully ban TikTok tomorrow. The choice marks the tip of TikTok’s monthslong authorized struggle in opposition to a legislation that primarily forces the app to close down except it divests its U.S. operations. Beginning Sunday, it will likely be unlawful for app shops and web internet hosting companies to distribute TikTok. The corporate warned that the app will “go darkish” on Sunday, nevertheless it’s unclear what precisely will occur when the ban takes impact.
American customers are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese language short-form video app also referred to as Xiaohongshu, making it the No. 1 free app on the U.S. App Retailer. RedNote hits quite a lot of the fitting notes for creators on the lookout for a TikTok different: It has a structure that’s much like Pinterest’s, it’s sometimes considered China’s reply to Instagram, and it boasts numerous social purchasing options. However the transition hasn’t been straightforward for some individuals.
TikTok customers are utilizing Duolingo to study Chinese language in rising numbers amid their adoption of RedNote forward of the TikTok ban. In response to Duolingo, the app has seen roughly 216% progress in new Mandarin learners within the U.S. in comparison with this time final yr, with a pointy spike in mid-January as RedNote’s adoption took off.
That is TechCrunch’s Week in Overview, the place we recap the week’s greatest information. Need this delivered as a e-newsletter to your inbox each Saturday? Join right here.
Information
Mark Cuban desires to fund the subsequent TikTok: The entrepreneur and investor mentioned he’s able to fund a TikTok different constructed on Bluesky’s AT Protocol, signaling potential for an open social net powered by the identical know-how that underpins Bluesky’s social community. Learn extra
Bluesky is getting a photo-sharing app: An impartial developer is constructing a photo-sharing app for Bluesky known as Flashes. At launch, the app might faucet into rising client demand for options to Large Tech’s social media monopoly. Learn extra
“ChatGPT, remind me to do my taxes”: OpenAI has a brand new method for ChatGPT to be just right for you. Paying customers of ChatGPT can now ask the AI assistant to schedule reminders or recurring requests in a brand new beta characteristic known as Duties. Learn extra
How one can break up with Meta: Within the wake of Meta’s resolution to take away its third-party fact-checking system and loosen content material moderation insurance policies, extra individuals are looking out tips on how to delete Fb, Instagram, and Threads. We put collectively a useful information. Learn extra
UnitedHealth hides information breach discover: Change Healthcare, which misplaced greater than 100 million individuals’s delicate well being information in a ransomware assault final yr, mentioned it has accomplished notifying these affected — however we discovered that UnitedHealth hid the breach discover for months. Learn extra
Nintendo lastly declares the Change 2: Nintendo shared the primary photos of the successor to the broadly common Nintendo Change, that includes an even bigger console with a bigger show, up to date Pleasure-Con controllers, and a much less colourful design than its predecessor. Learn extra
Sonos’ CEO is out: Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is leaving the corporate after eight years within the job following a botched replace to its software program platform that was suffering from bugs and eliminated some long-standing options. Learn extra
In search of a TikTok alternative? Attempt these: Whereas there’s no 1:1 alternative for TikTok, there are some viable choices to think about that provide an identical expertise. We put collectively a listing of the totally different apps value trying out to scratch the itch. Learn extra
Even AI doesn’t prefer to be interrupted: Google NotebookLM’s AI-generated podcast characteristic wanted some “friendliness tuning” after it was discovered to be “adversarial” and snippy when interrupted by human callers. Learn extra
Apple is pausing AI notification summaries: The corporate is dealing with backlash for producing inaccurate information alerts in information and leisure apps. Apple mentioned it’s additionally introducing adjustments to the summaries as a complete to permit for better transparency. Learn extra
OpenAI will get into the native information recreation: Axios introduced a partnership with OpenAI. As a part of the deal, OpenAI will fund Axios’ growth of its native newsletters into 4 new cities: Pittsburgh, Kansas Metropolis, Boulder, and Huntsville. Learn extra
Flip steps into display time: A brand new iOS app known as Steppin blocks your social media apps except you stroll a sure variety of steps every day. By reaching day by day step objectives, customers can unlock time on their most-used social media platforms. Learn extra
