Have you been hearing a lot about Lemon8 lately? You're not alone.
As a ban on TikTok looms in the US, content creators are promoting the platform's sister apps.
Lemon8 resembles a fusion of the kind of short-form videos you see on TikTok and the picture-perfect aesthetics of Instagram and Pinterest.
Like the popular Lemon8, Lemon8 is owned by China-based ByteDance, whose internationally available collection of apps includes video editing app CapCut and photo and art editing app Hypic. Also included.
Additionally, the company operates Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, subject to the Chinese government's strict censorship rules.
Lemon8 was launched in the US in 2023, several years after first appearing in the Asian market.
While the app attracted some media and user interest in its early days, it is not as popular as TikTok, which has more than 170 million users in the United States.
But over the past month, more people have downloaded the app, making it one of the top-ranked free apps in Apple's app store. Lemon8's popularity could rise further depending on the outcome of Friday's Supreme Court hearing on a law that would force TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or face a ban in the United States.
TikTok said it plans to shut down its platform in the U.S. by Jan. 19 if the government prevails, as it ruled in a lower court.
What do the creators say about Lemon8?
Influencers previously partnered with Lemon8 to promote lesser-known apps on TikTok. In recent weeks, many of them have praised Lemon8 as the place to go if TikTok is banned under federal law. Some are making recommendations through paid sponsored posts tagged with #lemon8partner, demonstrating the company's recent efforts to reach more users.
But there's a problem. The law would eliminate TikTok's U.S. operations unless sold to an approved buyer, and the divestment or ban requirements generally apply to apps owned or operated by ByteDance, TikTok, or their subsidiaries. stipulated. This means that Lemon8 and CapCut's future in the United States is also at risk, even though the law does not explicitly specify that.
Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at market research firm eMarketer, said creators promoting Lemon8 may not be aware of the potential impact on other ByteDance apps because they are not identified by law. he pointed out.
Lemon8's recent ads on TikTok may also be a sign that ByteDance is “hoping or betting” that Lemon8 will slip by as lawmakers and regulators focus on TikTok, Enberg said. Ta. Representatives for both companies did not respond to requests for comment.
Lemon8 download
To expand Lemon8's user base, TikTok announced in November that it would allow creators to access their Lemon8 account with the same account they use on TikTok, a feature the company says will allow them to share their content with The ability to cross-post will be enhanced. TikTok said the integration aims to expand creators' “reach and engagement potential.”
Similar to TikTok, Lemon8's main feed features both a “Following” section, where users can see content from creators they follow, and a “For You” section, which recommends other posts. The new platform separates posts into different categories, including relationships, wellness, and skin care.
ByteDance did not disclose the number of global or U.S. users for Lemon8, which is believed to be negligible compared to its trend-setting sister app.
Data from research firm SimilarWeb shows Lemon8 has just over 1 million daily active users in the U.S. As of Dec. 24, the app's total The number of monthly active users worldwide is 12.5 million.
Sensor Tower estimates that global downloads of the app rose significantly in December, increasing by 150% compared to an average month-over-month decline of 2% last year. The US accounted for 70% of downloads this month.
According to Sensor Tower, the most downloaded day in the U.S. was Dec. 19. The decision comes a day after the Supreme Court announced it would hear oral arguments this week on the constitutionality of a federal law banning TikTok.
The law was created last year after lawmakers and Biden administration officials tried to force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data by manipulating algorithms that populate user feeds and sway public opinion toward Chinese interests. The bill was passed with bipartisan support in response to concerns expressed that the bill could lead to
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Dec. 27 to suspend a potential TikTok ban until he takes office and his administration can pursue a “political solution” to the issue. requested that it be done.
