The Chinese parent company of TikTok has released a new app that has gained some popularity while lawmakers are considering a nationwide ban of TikTok.
It is probable that the application named Lemon8 may encounter comparable scrutiny as TikTok, which has been haunted by allegations that its parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled by the Chinese government to surrender control to the U.S. Either they manipulate user information or spread false information within the platform.
TikTok asserts that such an incident has not taken place. It is making an effort to persuade legislators that it is capable of safeguarding user information.
While doing so, ByteDance is actively pursuing its plans for growth. This is the information you should be aware of regarding the latest application released by the company.
Could you explain the concept of Lemon8?
Lemon8 is an app that combines the qualities of Instagram and Pinterest, with added videos that resemble those found on TikTok. According to social marketing specialists, the app bears similarities to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese e-commerce and social media heavyweight often referred to as “little red book.”
Similar to TikTok, Lemon8’s primary stream includes a section for “following” where users can view content from the creators they are following, as well as a section for “For You,” which suggests other posts. In addition, it categorizes postings into various groups such as style, aesthetics, and cuisine, permitting users to discover material in alternative manners.
Like TikTok and various other social media platforms, Lemon8 gathers user information, including but not limited to IP address, browsing activity, device identification, and other data.
Heliophilia Pte is identified as the proprietor in both the Apple and Google Play app marketplaces. The organization known as Ltd. is situated in Singapore and has the same location as ByteDance and TikTok.
What is the level of its popularity?
According to data from the app analytics company data.ai, Lemon8 was initially introduced in Asian markets in 2020 and has already achieved significant success in countries such as Thailand and Japan, with approximately 7.4 million and 5 million downloads, respectively.
The U.S. witnessed its introduction. Initially, in February, the event received insignificant attention, but its visibility increased when media outlets and TikTok influencers gave it more recognition.
Data from ai indicates that the app has been downloaded around 290,000 times in the United States as of Sunday, with the majority of downloads occurring towards the end of March. Among the most frequently downloaded applications on Apple’s app store, it is also included.
Influencer Marketing Factory’s sales VP, Nicla Bartoli, revealed that ByteDance approached her company in February, delivering a comprehensive presentation about their app and its application for influencers. The agency suggests that the influencers test the app, but does not advise brands to do the same due to the relatively small number of Lemon8 users.
It is uncertain whether the app will succeed naturally or fail. According to Brendan Gahan, who is a chief social officer at Mekanism, the previous half-decade witnessed numerous social media platforms that gained substantial popularity, but eventually faded away. He cited BeReal and Clubhouse as instances that gained significant traction in the past two years but eventually lost their user base when people shifted their focus elsewhere.
According to Gahan, it is challenging to attain triumph in social apps, and it is even more arduous to sustain it.
What statements has Bytedance made regarding the application?
ByteDance didn’t respond to an interview inquiry regarding their strategy for expanding Lemon8. During a cybersecurity conference last week, Erich Andersen, the general counsel for the company, stated in an interview with the Associated Press that they intend to persevere in developing the application.
regulations and ensure that our Lemon8 app meets all necessary standards in the United States.” We will make every effort to adhere to U.S. regulations and ensure that the Lemon8 app satisfies all the essential criteria in the United States. Andersen, TikTok’s general counsel, explained the importance of abiding by the law and making ethical decisions in this situation. In my opinion, the said application is still in its early stage of development and has a substantial distance to cover before it can reach its full potential.
ByteDance is currently recruiting for specific positions in the United States that will aid in increasing the app’s affiliations with notable individuals in the fields of beauty, food, health, and other areas.
Can you provide details on other activities undertaken by Bytedance?
CapCut, which is also owned by ByteDance, has been listed as one of the most preferred apps in the U.S. on Apple’s app store.
CapCut presents itself as a comprehensive video editing software that empowers users to clip or accelerate their footage while incorporating features such as filters and music.
According to Data.ai, the app analytics enterprise, the app was launched worldwide in April 2020, about 12 months after its initial debut in China. According to the group, as of Sunday, the editing tool has been downloaded in the United States for 60 million times. 940 million people around the world.
Do legislators have worries regarding the other applications?
A bipartisan bill in the Senate, referred to as the RESTRICT Act, has garnered backing, and although TikTok is not explicitly mentioned, it would enable the Commerce Department to scrutinize and potentially limit foreign hazards to technology platforms. The legislation has received criticism from privacy advocates as well as right-wing commentators who believe that it is excessively ambiguous and may be misused.
Mark Warner, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, co-sponsored the bill alongside a Republican senator. In a statement prepared by John Thune, it was stated that the proposed legislation would simplify the process of pursuing other hazardous applications, such as Lemon8.
According to Senator Warner, a Democrat representing Virginia, our government has been inefficiently tackling the numerous foreign technological dangers that keep emerging, akin to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole. The RESTRICT Act intends to create an evaluation process that is based on risk and informed by intelligence to manage and lessen the dangers presented by technology originating from adversarial countries, such as Huawei, TikTok, Lemon8, or upcoming technology products backed by authoritarian countries.
