Photo: Collected
With a potential TikTok ban looming in the US, content creators are increasingly promoting its sister app, Lemon8. The app, a blend of TikTok's short-form videos and the visual appeal of Instagram and Pinterest, is owned by ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, Douyin, and other apps like CapCut and Hypic.
Lemon8 launched in the US in 2023 after debuting in Asian markets but struggled to gain traction compared to TikTok, which boasts over 170 million US users.
However, in the past month, downloads of Lemon8 have surged, making it a top-ranking free app on Apple's app store. This rise in popularity coincides with a pending Supreme Court decision on a federal law that would require TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or face a US ban.
TikTok has stated it will shut down its US operations by January 19 if the government wins its case. The ban could also impact other ByteDance-owned apps, including Lemon8, as the law targets any apps operated by the company or its subsidiaries.
Content creators, some of whom had previously partnered with Lemon8 for promotions, have recently championed the app as a potential alternative to TikTok. Many influencers are posting paid promotions tagged lemon8partner, reflecting a corporate push to attract users.
However, analysts warn that creators may not fully understand the law's implications for ByteDance's other apps, including Lemon8 and CapCut.
Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Emarketer, suggested ByteDance may be hoping Lemon8 avoids regulatory scrutiny as lawmakers concentrate on TikTok. ByteDance did not comment on the situation.
In November, TikTok announced a feature allowing creators to access Lemon8 with their TikTok accounts, facilitating content sharing across platforms. Like TikTok, Lemon8 features "following" and "For You" feeds, alongside categorized posts in areas such as wellness, relationships, and skincare.
While ByteDance has not disclosed user numbers, research from SimilarWeb indicates Lemon8 has about 1 million daily active users in the US Data from Sensor Tower shows the app had 12.5 million global monthly active users as of December, with US downloads accounting for 70% of the month's total.
Downloads spiked on December 19, the day after the Supreme Court announced it would review the TikTok ban law.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns over potential misuse of US user data by Chinese authorities, fueling bipartisan support for the legislation.
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