Lemon8 shares a number of the security considerations as TikTok, however what’s the app and are the considerations justified?
It typically looks like there are new social media apps each different day, with an increasing number of firms desirous to turn into the subsequent Meta. One of many newer entries to the market, launched in 2020, is Lemon8.
The app is targeted on sharing media and content material however boasts its personal USP in comparison with long-term dominators within the social media area like Instagram, Fb, and X (previously Twitter). Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at what Lemon8 is, who owns it, and what a number of the considerations are round it which have seen it making headlines all over the world.
What’s Lemon8?
Lemon8 is a social media app, designed to share images and movies. It’s pushed by user-generated content material (UGC), with the power to share media tagged underneath particular classes and merchandise, very like Pinterest or Instagram, TikTok, and X’s long-term use of hashtags. Well-liked matters on Lemon8 embody meals, wellness, journey, magnificence, and so forth.
Are you able to earn money on Lemon8?
In brief, sure. In reality, with a heavy give attention to merchandise and categorization, the Lemon8 app consists of messaging round empowering its viewers to turn into creators, versus sustaining privateness (as touted by BeReal) or connecting with family and friends (a la Fb).
There’s quick access throughout the app so as to add product info, similar to costs, hyperlinks, and different affiliate or content material creator instruments. These choices are open to creators of any dimension, encouraging these even with small followings to behave and publish on the platform as if it’s a monetized channel.
Wanting on the person expertise of Lemon8, there’s much less of a push to scroll ceaselessly, with one publish taking on your entire display screen. As an alternative, you’ll be able to extra simply browse particular person matters or merchandise, with a number of posts showing in your display screen directly. This as soon as once more displays the behind-the-scenes push to turn into a creator, reasonably than merely a passive person.
Who owns Lemon8?
Lemon8 is owned by ByteDance, the Chinese language firm that additionally owns TikTok. It was first launched in 2020 however didn’t take off within the dominant western social media markets of the UK and the USA till 2023, when it was launched exterior of Asia. It’s obtainable on each iOS and Android.
ByteDance initially launched the app seemingly as a competitor to Xiaohongshu, a equally product-driven app standard in China. Lemon8 shortly managed to drum up a robust aggressive following in different markets in Asia, earlier than its enlargement to the West.
Is Lemon8 protected?
With Lemon8 being owned by ByteDance, the identical firm behind TikTok, some have raised considerations in regards to the security of the app. This comes after the US Home of Representatives voted in favor of an up to date invoice that may successfully ban TikTok if ByteDance doesn’t promote the app. If and when the proposed invoice makes its approach to President Joe Biden’s desk, the president has implied that he would signal it into regulation. The assist for the efficient ban of TikTok within the US is predicated on obvious security considerations, with the app being accused of harvesting large quantities of knowledge.
Whereas app security testing platform Qustodio stories that Lemon8 works as marketed and doesn’t have any main security considerations, it’s believed that it operates utilizing the identical algorithms as TikTok, that means the identical knowledge security harvesting considerations might be warranted.
One other safety-focused third social gathering, Shield Younger Eyes, additionally provides a warning that there’s a lot of content material with few content material controls, that means that younger individuals may entry age-inappropriate content material if not correctly supervised. Arguably, nevertheless, the identical might be mentioned for almost all of apps that younger individuals could make accounts for.
Featured picture: Lemon8 by way of ByteDance
