Is Lemon8 Safe for Kids? A Lemon8 App Review for Parents

Harmful Content 😲

So far, the app seems centered around specific topics such as health, travel, and beauty. Lemon8 is attempting to replicate Instagram’s successful paid influencer content, so just imagine the perfectly edited and curated posts of an Instagram ad, and that’s basically the majority of Lemon8’s content. 

Researching the app did not turn up any harmful content such as inappropriate sexual posts, violent or hate speech, or excessive profanity. This could be due to the fact that the app is relatively new and it’s rumored that many of the users are influencers being paid by ByteDance to post this specific content. This could change later down the line as more “regular” people start using it and post whatever they wish.

Predation 🚨

As of right now, the only way to communicate with other users on Lemon8 is through public comments on posts. There is no direct messaging feature — usually our number one red flag for potential predation. It’s possible, however, that users could exchange links to other social media or messaging platforms through comments, though.

Privacy 🔒

Lemon8 does not allow you to make your account private — whatever you post will be public no matter what. However, similar to TikTok, Lemon8 will save the posts you either like or save on your profile so you can go back to them later. These “liked posts” or “saved posts” can be made private from other users, and the app actually defaults to have these hidden upon downloading.

Additionally, the app allows you to link your other social media accounts as well as your phone number, which we would strongly discourage allowing your child to do if they use Lemon8. This could prevent strangers who find your child on Lemon8 from jumping to other platforms to communicate with them privately. 

Parental Controls ✅

There are no parental controls for Lemon8, so if your child uses it you’ll have to keep a close eye on their activity to ensure they use it safely. 

But of course, Bark can lend a helping hand! With Bark, you can:

• Block Lemon8 entirely, if needed.
• Manage when your kid can use Lemon8 throughout the day.

So, should my kid download it?

Possibly, if they’re about 12 or older and you feel they can use it responsibly. As of right now, there’s no particular danger for kids, but keep in mind that some of these things can change if more people jump ship from TikTok and the app grows in popularity over time.