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ByteDance's Lemon8 App Gains Popularity in the US Amid TikTok's Uncertain Future
ByteDance's Lemon8 app is gaining popularity in the US as TikTok faces potential bans. Lemon8 is a content-curation platform that combines elements of Instagram and Pinterest. Lemon8 has been the most downloaded lifestyle app on Apple's App Store in the US since April 7.
This comes as ByteDance's flagship short video platform, TikTok, faces the possibility of a ban in the country.
Lemon8, often described as a combination of Instagram and Pinterest, is a content-curation platform that focuses on lengthy blog-style posts with an emphasis on photos. Users can explore, create, and engage with a wide range of popular content, including fashion, travel, food, and health.
Since April 7, Lemon8 has been the most downloaded lifestyle app on Apple's App Store in the US, surpassing popular platforms like Pinterest and Tinder. Although it briefly lost its top spot to Pinterest on April 26 and 27, according to app analytics provider Data.ai.
On Google Play, Lemon8 has consistently ranked between 10th and 19th among lifestyle apps for Android users in the US over the past month. This places it behind Pinterest and Amazon's Alexa but ahead of online publishing platform Substack.
Originally launched as "Sharee" in Japan in March 2020, Lemon8 was introduced to the US and the United Kingdom in February of the following year. The app is also available in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The growing interest in Lemon8 across the US demonstrates ByteDance's successful strategy of introducing the platform at a time when TikTok faced potential bans. This move appears to be paying off, as Lemon8 gains traction while ByteDance navigates the challenges surrounding TikTok's future.
In 2020, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring ByteDance to sell its US operations due to concerns over user data privacy. However, TikTok has consistently denied these allegations.
ByteDance has reportedly been collaborating with TikTok influencers to promote the lesser-known Lemon8 app in the US, as per a report by the New York Post.
Lemon8 has also been among the top three lifestyle apps for iOS users in other markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to Data.ai. In Japan, it currently ranks 20th among iOS lifestyle apps.
US President Joe Biden recently signed a legislative measure that could lead to the removal of TikTok from app stores in the country unless ByteDance divests its US business. Biden has set a deadline of January 19, just one day before his term expires, but he has the option to grant a three-month extension if he deems ByteDance to be making progress.
ByteDance, based in Beijing, has denied a report by US digital publication The Information, which suggested that the company was exploring options to sell a majority stake in TikTok's US operations. ByteDance asserts that it has no plans to divest this business and intends to challenge the US measure in court.
ByteDance's Lemon8 app is gaining popularity in the US as TikTok faces potential bans.
Lemon8 is a content-curation platform that combines elements of Instagram and Pinterest.
Lemon8 has been the most downloaded lifestyle app on Apple's App Store in the US since April 7.
Source: SCMP