Since TikTok's rise to fame, many have questioned the app's privacy. Concerns surrounding the app's data collection have always been around with how the Chinese government allegedly gains access to the app's user details. Due to this frenzy, bills to ban TikTok in certain countries have been implemented.
In April 2024, former U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation that requires ByteDance, the Chinese company behind the mega app to sell it to a government-approved buyer. If they do not meet the requirements, the social media platform will be banned. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, a bill prohibiting TikTok and other "foreign-adversary" platforms was filed in May 2024.
With the TikTok ban looming in the U.S., social media users are now looking for alternatives to the short-form video-sharing platform. Enter Lemon8, TikTok's sister app.
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What is Lemon8, the new TikTok-alternative platform?
Lemon8 is another app made by the Chinese company ByteDance. They first launched in Japan in 2020. The app then made its way to the U.S. in 2023, coincidentally when users started looking for alternatives to TikTok.
While TikTok is primarily a short-form video-sharing platform, Lemon8 offers a slightly different experience. It has similar TikTok features such as a scrollable For You Page (a.k.a. FYP) and video content sharing. But it also has similar features to Instagram and Pinterest such as posting and editing photos and collages.
Who is Lemon8 for?
Lemon8 is for Pinterest mood-board-making girlies and those who enjoyed reading blogs on Tumblr circa 2016. However, a major difference it has from Pinterest is how the platform boasts the community engagement that Pinterest lacks. So for the Pinterest girlies who are completely happy with the app but are yearning for a sense of community, then Lemon8 is made for you.
While the app is similar to Pinterest, it's more comparable to Instagram during its earlier days. However, Lemon8 users can craft longer captions. Instagram's caption character limits have been an ongoing concern yappers seem to have with the platform. Lemon8 also allows users to make more intensive Canva-like edits to their images in-app.
At the same time, Lemon8 uses the algorithm to personalize content to its users, similar to its sister app TikTok where the FYP is dictated by interest. In Lemon8, these are primarily lifestyle content and include beauty, fashion, and travel niches.
Can users from the Philippines access Lemon8?
Unfortunately, Lemon8 is not yet available in the Philippines as of writing. But, here's to hoping that due to TikTok's popularity in the country, ByteDance will consider adding the Philippines to the list of countries where Lemon8 will be downloadable.
