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TikTok to shut down Instagram rival on May 8
TikTok is shutting down its photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, on May 8 due to low user adoption. Users will be redirected to Lemon8, another ByteDance-owned app which has shown better engagement since its 2020 launch. TikTok has integrated accounts between the two platforms, promoting Lemon8 as a viable alternative amid concerns of a US ban.
Key points
- TikTok Notes was launched in Canada, Australia, and Vietnam last year.
- The app was seen as a competitor to Instagram but did not gain enough users.
- Users are now directed to Lemon8, a platform offering similar features.
- Lemon8 was launched in Japan in 2020 and expanded to the US and Southeast Asia.
- As of December 2024, Lemon8 had 12.5 million monthly active users.
- TikTok’s promotion of Lemon8 comes amid fears of an impending US ban.
Why it matters
- The shutdown reflects a trend of consolidation in social media platforms.
- As companies adapt to social media dynamics, integration like TikTok with Lemon8 could signal a shift towards fewer dominant platforms.
- Trends in 2025 show the continuing rise of visually focused content applications, similar to the growth seen with TikTok and Instagram.
The closure of TikTok Notes highlights the challenges faced by social media apps in gaining traction, while Lemon8's promotion reveals TikTok's strategy to retain users in an evolving landscape.