As Congress considers a ban on the social media platform TikTok due to questions about the privacy of data, online safety concerns and connections with the Chinese Communist Party, many individuals and businesses alike are looking for a replacement.
Some businesses feel Lemon8 may be the answer.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has introduced Lemon8 – an app that’s essentially a mix of Instagram and Pinterest. Lemon8 is a lifestyle app that has five main categories: beauty, fashion, travel, wellness and food, as noted in an article by Vogue. The app differs from TikTok in the fact that it’s exclusively for photo and image galleries.
The app is quickly gaining popularity and has become the most downloaded app in the U.S. in the last 30 days and according to Apptopia. It’s accumulated 17 million downloads since its launch in 2020.
As of February, 34% of Lemon8 downloads have come from the U.S. and its average user age is between 28 and 30 years old, Vogue noted.
BENEFICIAL FOR BUSINESSES?
Major brands have yet to appear on the Lemon8 app and there have been reports of fraudulent brand accounts, according to an article by PYMNTS. Despite that, many food industry insiders, like Tony Bisciglia, are optimistic.
Bisciglia, co-owner of 1033, a restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thinks the app will help promote his business.
“I believe that Lemon8 has the potential to give my business a lot of exposure. With Lemon8, we can showcase our unique wine selection and food offerings to a wider audience,” Bisciglia told The Food Institute. “The app’s user-friendly interface and social media integration makes it easy for customers to discover our restaurant and share their experiences with others.
“Lemon8 … has been specifically designed to help businesses improve their visibility and connect with potential customers.”
LEMON8’S POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
In contrast to Instagram and TikTok, which did not depend on paid influencer partnerships during their initial launch, Lemon8 appears to be focusing on creating a commerce and influence-centered environment right from the beginning, PYMNTS reported.
This approach differs from the launches of Instagram and TikTok. Although there is not an option right now to tag items or include shoppable links, people are finding ways to generate income via Lemon8. For example, one influencer is partnering with a shopping platform LTK, which allows influencers to upload photos and videos and link to products through a bio link.
Only time will tell whether or not TikTok will be banned and if Lemon8 is a beneficial alternative. Businesses should do their due diligence to figure out whether or not the app is right for them.
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