Hearing a lot about Lemon8 lately? Amid a looming U.S. ban on TikTok, content creators have been turning to Lemon8, a sister app that combines elements of TikTok's short-form videos with the aesthetic appeal of Instagram and Pinterest. Owned by China-based ByteDance, Lemon8 is part of a suite of apps that includes CapCut and Hypic, along with Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok.
Although Lemon8 launched in the U.S. in 2023, it has not gained as much traction as TikTok, which boasts over 170 million users in the U.S. However, recent spikes in downloads have propelled Lemon8 to the top of Apple's app store rankings.
The potential for Lemon8's popularity to surge further hinges on a U.S. Supreme Court hearing regarding a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok unless it severs ties with ByteDance. Influencers have been promoting Lemon8 as a viable alternative if TikTok faces a ban, with sponsored posts tagged #lemon8partner becoming more prevalent.
Despite not being explicitly named in the law, Lemon8 and CapCut could also be at risk due to their association with ByteDance. Analysts suggest that ByteDance may be strategically promoting Lemon8 in the hopes of evading regulatory scrutiny focused on TikTok.
To attract more users, TikTok announced that creators could access Lemon8 using their existing TikTok accounts, facilitating cross-posting of content. Lemon8's interface mirrors TikTok's, featuring a 'following' section for subscribed creators and a 'For You' section for recommended content, organized by categories like relationships and wellness.
Data on Lemon8's user base remains undisclosed, but estimates suggest a modest daily active user count of over 1 million. Sensor Tower data indicates a notable surge in global downloads in December, with the U.S. accounting for a significant portion of the increase.
The push for a TikTok ban stems from concerns over data privacy and potential Chinese influence. President-elect Donald Trump has sought to delay the ban's implementation to allow for further deliberation on the matter.
