🍋 Is TikTok Trying To Do A Switcheroo With Their Sister App Lemon8?

In today’s newsletter we discuss TikTok trying to migrate users to their sister app Lemon8, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is stopping fact-checking, Disney acquires a 70% stake Fubo, Amazon’s Prime Video has licensed a Melania Trump documentary executive produced by Melania Trump (there’s a joke in there somewhere), Denver wins the 16th franchise in the NWSL, and there’s a taco stand in Mexico City with 1 Michelin Star.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

🍋 Is TikTok trying to do a switcheroo with their sister app Lemon8?

As the clock ticks down (pun intended) to the scheduled January 19, 2025 ban of TikTok in the U.S., the popular Chinese-owned short-video platform is actively encouraging its users to migrate to its sister app, Lemon8. This move by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, highlights the growing uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future in the U.S. as the company fights to retain its user base.

What’s behind the TikTok ban

The looming TikTok ban stems from persistent concerns among U.S. lawmakers and security officials regarding the app's potential ties to the Chinese government. These concerns center on the possibility of user data being accessed by Chinese authorities and the potential for the app to be used for propaganda or espionage purposes.

The U.S. government has taken legislative action to address the perceived security risks posed by TikTok. The "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" was passed in April 2024, and mandates a ban on TikTok in the U.S. unless ByteDance divests its ownership of the app. Good luck with that!

TikTok's Push for Lemon8

In anticipation of the ban, TikTok has ramped up their efforts to promote Lemon8, a lifestyle-focused app featuring photo and video content; think Instagram but with TikTok’s addictive algorithm. The company has implemented several strategies to incentivize users to switch to Lemon8, including:

• Cross-promotion within the TikTok app: TikTok has begun displaying prominent advertisements for Lemon8 within its app, encouraging users to download and explore the app.

• Influencer marketing: ByteDance has enlisted TikTok influencers to promote Lemon8 to their followers, leveraging their influence to drive adoption.

• Account integration: TikTok has streamlined the sign up process for Lemon8 by allowing users to use their existing TikTok accounts for a seamless transition between the two platforms.

Can Lemon8 be a TikTok alternative?

Lemon8 presents itself as a potential alternative for TikTok users seeking a similar content experience. The app features a For You page that algorithmically recommends content based on user preferences, echoing TikTok's personalized content delivery system. While Lemon8's content focuses on lifestyle topics such as fashion, beauty, and travel, the app's core functionality and user interface bear notable similarities to TikTok.

Parting thoughts

Despite TikTok's efforts to promote Lemon8, it remains largely unknown here in the U.S.. Lemon8 faces competition from established social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, which cater to similar content niches. It’s a big question whether TikTok users will be willing to migrate to a new platform, even with the impending ban. And what happens if TikTok receives a stay of execution at the 11th hour? Lemon8’s growth and survival could hang in the balance.

🐭 Business

Disney has reached a deal to invest in Fubo to acquire a 70% stake in the company, and combine their Hulu+ Live TV with Fubo, which will continue to be run by Fubo’s CEO David Gandler while Disney will control the company’s board of directors. All of these was seemingly done in order for Fubo to drop a lawsuit they filed against Disney’s new Venu sports streaming service.

Ryan Reynold’s production and advertising company Maximum Effort, co-founded with George Dewey, signed a $10 million dollar stock deal in August of 2022 for a multiyear, first-look deal for unscripted content with subscription TV streamer Fubo. Fubo’s stock price on Aug 22, 2022 was $4.10, giving them roughly 2,439,024 million shares.

As of Wednesday morning, January 8 Fubo’s stock is trading at $5.46, giving Ryan Reynold’s Maximum Effort at stake in Fubo worth around $13,317,071 million dollars.

📱 Streaming

‘Tis the season for tech execs to forgo their values, and instead sell their souls to curry favor with the incoming administration. Amazon’s Prime Video has licensed a Melania Trump documentary that will be produced by the incoming First Lady. No conflict of interest there.

🌮 Foodie

What does every taco truck dream of being when they grow up? Why, to have a Michelin Star of course! But sadly, there can be only one. El Califa de León, a taqueria located in the San Rafael neighborhood of Mexico City, is the only taco stand in the world to have a Michelin Star.

💻 Tech

In a shocking aboutface and cowardly bending of the knee to a political party, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is scraping their fact-checking program on both Facebook and Instagram, and bringing back political content to their platforms. Great leadership Zuck! Way to stand up to disinformation.

⚽ Sports

Denver has beat out three other groups, including the Cleveland Soccer Group and the MLS club Cincinnati FC, to become the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) 16th franchise, but it didn’t come cheap. Reports are it’ll cost the group led by Robert Cohen, CEO of the IMA Financial Group, $110 million dollars for the expansion fee.

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irl Media NEWSLETTER is written, edited, and published by Chris Thompson.