Amidst the ongoing discussions among US legislators regarding a potential nationwide ban on TikTok, ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, has been actively promoting its Instagram-esque app to American social media users. As reported by The New York Post, ByteDance is compensating certain TikTok influencers to endorse Lemon8, a recently launched app, with the aim of increasing its visibility and user engagement. An influencer disclosed that shortly after the House approved a bill proposing TikTok’s ban, she received an offer of $200 to create and upload a promotional video for Lemon8 on TikTok.
Despite the US government’s fears that the app could give the Chinese Communist Party access to private information about Americans, Lemon8 has received positive reviews from many users. Some describe it as an equalizer that helps people from marginalized communities gain exposure. Jensen Savannah, 29, a creator from Charlotte, North Carolina, says that she began making TikToks during the pandemic and that the app allowed her to make a full-time living from her content. She says she’s tripled her income since leaving her telecommunications sales job.
However, other creators say that Lemon8 is only for some. They point out that it requires more structured content and the use of words in videos. They worry about the time it takes to craft posts. They also complain about a lack of features, such as the ability to view more than one video at a time or search for specific content.
The creators interviewed by The Post also say that Lemon8’s guidelines are stricter than those for TikTok. For example, it requires that posts have a title and description and use a minimum of 10 words in the description. They also say that they need to be creative when crafting their content and think of ways to engage viewers. One creator compared it to Pinterest and Instagram, saying it’s more “educational and informative.”
As Congress debates a potential ban on TikTok, a bipartisan group of representatives calls for the app’s owner to sell it. The bill would require ByteDance to sell the app within six months or face a ban. But a sale is unlikely. A number of potential buyers have already expressed interest in buying the app.
Even if ByteDance is forced to sell the app, a ban on TikTok could hurt American consumers and small businesses that depend on the platform. The issue of data privacy and national security is a significant concern for some members of Congress. Still, they also balance that with the desire not to limit free speech online. And as they need help finding balance, they may lose ground with young voters. A recent AP-NORC poll found that younger Americans are less concerned about TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese government than older Americans. The results were based on 1,015 interviews with adults between September and October. The margin of error is plus or minus five percentage points.