New Lemon8 App Takes Off as TikTok Faces Ban – Is This the Next Big Thing in Social Media?

As the potential ban of TikTok looms over the United States, content creators are turning to Lemon8, the platform’s sister app, in search of a new creative outlet. Lemon8 offers a unique blend of short-form video content reminiscent of TikTok and the visually appealing aesthetics of Instagram and Pinterest.

1. Lemon8, like TikTok, is owned by the China-based company ByteDance. Alongside Lemon8 and TikTok, ByteDance oversees a variety of apps catering to creative expression, such as CapCut for video editing and Hypic for photo and art editing. Additionally, the company operates Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, which adheres to China’s strict content censorship regulations.

2. Despite being in the US market since 2023, Lemon8 initially struggled to gain traction compared to TikTok, which boasts over 170 million users in the US. However, recent trends have shown a surge in Lemon8 downloads, leading the app to climb the ranks as one of the top free apps on Apple’s app store.

3. The surge in Lemon8’s popularity coincides with the impending US Supreme Court hearing regarding a law that mandates TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or face a ban in the US. If the law comes into effect, TikTok is set to shut down its US operations by January 19.

Influencers who previously promoted Lemon8 on TikTok have now shifted their focus to advocating Lemon8 as a potential alternative if TikTok faces a ban. Many influencers have taken to sponsored posts using #lemon8partner to encourage users to join the platform. However, a crucial issue arises regarding the broader implications of the law, which poses a risk to all ByteDance-affiliated apps, including Lemon8 and CapCut.

Market research analyst Jasmine Enberg highlighted that while influencers promote Lemon8, they may not fully grasp the implications for other ByteDance apps, as the law does not explicitly name them. The recent influx of Lemon8 advertisements on TikTok may indicate ByteDance’s hope that Lemon8 flies under the radar while regulators target TikTok.

1. To expand its user base, TikTok announced a feature allowing creators to link their TikTok account with Lemon8 for cross-platform content sharing. This move is aimed at enhancing creators’ reach and engagement potential across both platforms.

2. Similar to TikTok, Lemon8 features a ‘Following’ section for users to view content from creators they follow and a ‘For You’ section recommending other posts. Lemon8 also categorizes posts into topics like relationships, wellness, and skincare to offer a diverse range of content to users.

Data on Lemon8’s global and US user base remains undisclosed by ByteDance, but estimates suggest the platform has around one million daily active users. Recent data from Sensor Tower indicates a significant increase in Lemon8 downloads globally, with a 150% surge in December alone, predominantly driven by US users.

The surge in downloads coincided with the Supreme Court’s decision to review the constitutionality of the law that could potentially ban TikTok. Concerns over data privacy and political influence from Chinese authorities have fueled bipartisan support for the law, leading to uncertainty regarding the future of ByteDance’s apps in the US. As the outcome of the legal battle remains uncertain, the landscape of social media could undergo significant changes, reshaping how users engage with platforms like TikTok and Lemon8.