WASHINGTON — The day many TikTok fans feared has finally arrived. If you woke up Sunday morning ready to scroll through your favorite dances, recipes, and memes, you’ve likely noticed TikTok is no longer there. Following the enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), TikTok and several other ByteDance-owned apps have been banned in the U.S., leaving millions searching for a new digital home.

Enter Lemon8. With its Pinterest-meets-Instagram aesthetic, Lemon8 offers a social media platform for sharing everything from beauty hacks to home decor inspiration. But what exactly is Lemon8, and could it become the next big thing in a post-TikTok world?

Launched in 2020, Lemon8 is a social media app developed by Heliophilia Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean company linked to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The platform takes features of Instagram and Pinterest, focusing heavily on lifestyle content such as fashion, beauty, food, and travel. Its clean, visually-driven interface has even drawn comparisons to Xiaohongshu (a popular Chinese app known as RedNote).

Although Lemon8 isn’t banned in the U.S. yet, its connection to ByteDance has put it under scrutiny. With the TikTok ban in full effect, many users are heading over to Lemon8 in search of a similar experience. Lemon8’s integration with TikTok—introduced in late 2024—has made it even easier for users to transition by linking profiles and cross-posting content.

Its design prioritizes creativity and discovery, offering a platform for lifestyle enthusiasts to share curated content, connect with like-minded users, and explore a feed tailored to their interests. For many, it’s the natural next step in the wake of TikTok’s disappearance.

Despite its growing popularity, Lemon8’s future in the U.S. remains unclear. Its connection to ByteDance means it could face the same regulatory hurdles that led to TikTok’s ban.