TikTok sister app Lemon8 surges in U.S.
A new mobile app from TikTok-parent ByteDance is gaining traction in the U.S., despite growing national security concerns around ByteDance's China ties.
Lemon8's impressive growth at such an early stage shows the power Chinese apps have over American users, even as skepticism of China grows.
- It also signals how determined ByteDance is to grow in the U.S. market, as lawmakers debate taking action on TikTok.
How it works: The app, which caters to a Gen Z audience, features a mix of TikTok-like videos and Instagram-like photos.
- Unlike TikTok, the app allows users to upload still photos.
Lemon8's aesthetic is more artsy, colorful and aspirational than TikTok's, resembling Pinterest in some ways.
By the numbers: Lemon8 has been installed 17 million times globally since its launch in March 2020, according to Apptopia.
- It's been installed in the U.S. 650,000 times in the past week and a half.
- Japan is Lemon8's biggest market.
ByteDance's global general counsel, Erich Andersen, who represents TikTok, told AP: "We’re obviously going to do our best with the Lemon8 app to comply with U.S. law and to make sure we do the right thing here."