As TikTok’s US ban looms, there’s one word on everyone’s lips: Lemon8. The social media platform describes itself as a “lifestyle community focussed app,” which shares content related to beauty, wellness, and fashion, among other things. Like TikTok, users of the app are able to publish, edit, and share content like videos and pictures.
In the past few weeks, influencers have been promoting the app on TikTok, with creator @strawberriredd describing it as a “backup app” for TikTok.
She also claims that the app automatically signs you in with your TikTok handle and transfers things like your followers.
This kind of promotion, coupled with the nation’s acceptance that TikTok is gone for good, has led to the app soaring to the top of the iOS App Store, USA Today reports. Furthermore, the outlet adds that Lemon8 has been downloaded over 10 million times on Google Play.
Will Lemon8 Replace TikTok?
The short answer is no.
Like TikTok, Lemon8 was developed and created by ByteDance — the China-based company at the heart of this lawsuit.
While Lemon8 isn’t explicitly mentioned in the “ban or sell” law, Christopher Krepich, communications director for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, told Forbes that if no sale was made, Lemon8 would also end up getting banned.
So, if you’re a creator looking for a TikTok alternative, your best bet may be something like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
