Parents' Guide to

Lemon8

By Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Posts seem to involve more promotion than real connections.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Mac , Android Free Social Networking
Lemon8: The Lemon8 homepage shows a sample of images.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Lemon8: Users share information about jewelry and their personal life on the app.
  • Lemon8: A post showcases design elements in a Los Angeles apartment.
  • Lemon8: Users have posted about skirts and other fashion trends.

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What’s It About?

LEMON8 bills itself as "a place for young creatives to share a diversity of content" -- including posts about fashion, hair and makeup, travel, home design, and other topics. When you sign up, you're asked to identify areas of interest -- and will see posts about those subjects in your feed. Kids can also search for topics and follow other users. Users have to indicate they're 18 or older to register. They can then view and also edit and post videos, photos, and text using stickers, filters, and other tools.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

This app's format isn't particularly unique, and with a number of posts featuring a subtle -- or more overt -- commercial aspect, it's probably a better option for adults. Lemon8 debuted in the United States in 2023 but has been available in other countries since 2020. Numerous media outlets, including Axios and the New York Times, have reported the app comes from the same company as TikTok. The two apps share a somewhat similar look and feel. In Lemon8, content is listed under a "For You" heading, based on the interests you've indicated when signing up for the app. Another tab lists the accounts you follow. Posts involve food, beauty, home design, and other topics -- including some niche subject matter you can choose during registration, such as perfume. Users share items containing visuals like videos or a series of photos that touch on their personal preferences, tips, and other information.

The app describes itself as a "hobbyist community," which seems a little misleading. While some content touches on pastimes like knitting and gardening, a fair amount involves users sharing health and other advice. Because the content is all user-provided, as with other social media apps, the quality can vary. Items include a mix of positive posts, involving self-empowerment messages and diversity-related subject matter, such as posts with hashtags like #blackgirlcreator. Yet there are also posts with more iffy messages encouraging users to contact someone for information on how to make money, and videos where a wife surprises her husband by wearing a push-up bra. Some posts offer wellness tips that are presented as fact, even though research citations or other verified sources aren't provided to support the claims. Some posts mention specific items but don't link to any related manufacturers or places to buy them. Others include details like the name of the store where certain products are sold. Given the frequent product references and sometimes dubious lifestyle claims, parents may want to at least monitor their teen's time on the app to ensure they aren't confusing facts with what may actually be fiction.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their desired rules for privacy on social networks like Lemon8. When would it be OK to share information -- and what should be kept private? Can your child share videos publicly, or only with friends?

  • Does your child feel compelled to respond right away after getting a message? Is it OK to wait if you're busy or just don't want to engage in screen time right now?

  • What phrases or other elements might indicate a post isn't OK for kids to see? Discuss some warning signs to watch out for when scrolling through social networks.

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Mac , Android
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Release date: April 10, 2023
  • Category: Social Networking
  • Publisher: Heliophilia Pte. Ltd.
  • Version: 3.9.0
  • Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 11.0 or later, macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or later, and Android 6.0 and up.
  • Last updated: April 11, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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