As U.S. lawmakers debate whether to ban TikTok nationwide, its Chinese parent company ByteDance has been promoting its Instagram-like app to U.S. social media users.according to New York Post, ByteDance is paying TikTok influencers to promote Lemon8, an Instagram clone, to generate buzz and engagement.

One influential person told The Washington Post that she was offered $200 to upload a video promoting Lemon8 on TikTok shortly after the House passed a bill aimed at banning the popular video platform. Another influencer with 362,700 followers on TikTok said she is working with ByteDance to build a fan base on Lemon8, but she only has 66 followers on Lemon8. Several other TikTok influencers have also posted videos promoting Lemon8 that include links to download the app. Notably, efforts to promote the new app have been ongoing since last year.

The push comes as the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill that would force TikTok to divest from its Chinese owners or face being banned in the United States. The legislation could be a major setback for the video-sharing app, which has soared in popularity around the world.

What is Lemon 8?

according to Washington postLemon8 describes itself as a “lifestyle community” that functions like a cross between Pinterest and Instagram. The photo-based app allows users to post, save and share images and text under different categories such as fashion, food, beauty, health and travel.

Like TikTok, Lemon8’s main feed has a “Following” section that lets users view content from creators they follow, and a “For You” section that recommends other posts.

It was first launched in Japan in 2020 and has since been launched in countries such as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. It was launched in the United States in February 2023 and has more than 4.25 million active users in the United States.

The app’s description on the Play Store reads: “Lemon8 is a destination for sharing and exploring.” On Lemon8, photo and video content is fresh, diverse and informative. Whether you’re a fashion lover, a beauty lover, or looking for gourmet recipes or travel itineraries, you’ll find it on Lemon8. All you have to do is browse, record and engage with the content you like and you’ll find something personalized just for you. “

About ByteDance

In recent years, ByteDance has risen rapidly to become one of the world’s most valuable companies, worth approximately US$225 billion. ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017. The app became popular around the world, with over 1 billion users within four years.

Thanks to the explosive growth of its apps, ByteDance has expanded into e-commerce and travel booking and released a video editing app. The Chinese company said it has more than 150,000 employees in nearly 120 cities around the world. Bloomberg reported in December that ByteDance’s sales would top $110 billion in 2023, a figure higher than Chinese technology giant Tencent’s estimated revenue for that year.