In the world of social media, two platforms have recently gained significant attention in Southeast Asia: Xiao Hong Shu (Little Red Book) and Lemon8. Both platforms cater to a similar audience and share the overarching goal of creating social commerce ecosystems combining user-generated content with e-commerce features.
In Malaysia, where social media usage is highly prominent, understanding the key differences between these platforms is crucial for influencers, businesses, and content creators looking to build their online presence. This article will explore and compare Xiao Hong Shu Malaysia and Lemon8, helping businesses and influencers decide which platform suits their needs in 2025.
Table of Contents
What is Xiao Hong Shu?
Xiao Hong Shu, known internationally as Little Red Book, is a Chinese social media platform that has evolved into one of the most influential social commerce platforms in China and increasingly in Southeast Asia. Founded in 2013, Xiao Hong Shu initially started as a platform where users could share reviews of international products, mainly focusing on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle items.
Over time, the platform grew into a hybrid social media app that combines user-generated content (UGC) with a powerful shopping feature, enabling users to discover and purchase products directly from the app.
Key Features of Xiao Hong Shu:
- User-Generated Content: This content mainly consists of photos, videos, and written posts, with users sharing their experiences, reviews, and recommendations.
- Social Commerce: It allows users to seamlessly purchase products they discover on the platform, often with integrated shopping features like links to e-commerce platforms.
- Influencer Collaborations: Known for strong collaborations with influencers in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle sectors, Xiao Hong Shu is an essential platform for influencers and brands targeting millennial and Gen Z audiences in Malaysia.
- Hashtags and Trends: The platform extensively uses hashtags to organise content and help users discover popular trends and niche topics.
Xiao Hong Shu’s success is primarily attributed to its unique ability to blend social media and e-commerce. This makes it a powerful tool for brands and influencers to create organic marketing content that resonates with users. The platform’s rising popularity in Malaysia reflects this, with more users engaging with local influencers and brands.
What is Lemon8?
Lemon8, launched by ByteDance (the same parent company behind TikTok), is a newer social media platform gaining traction, particularly among younger audiences. It offers a similar concept to Xiao Hong Shu but takes a slightly different approach with its content and features.
Lemon8 combines short-form video content with social networking, allowing users to share their experiences and creativity more interactively and casually. The platform emphasises lifestyle content and allows users to post about fashion, beauty, food, fitness, and more. While still in its early stages compared to Xiao Hong Shu, Lemon8 has rapidly gained popularity, especially among those who already use TikTok and are familiar with ByteDance’s ecosystem.
Key Features of Lemon8:
- Interactive Content: Users can post images, short videos, and text posts designed to engage followers with visually appealing and often highly creative content.
- Influencer Culture: Lemon8 attracts influencers who produce entertaining and informative lifestyle and fashion content. This is beneficial for influencers looking to grow their brands.
- TikTok Integration: Lemon8 is part of the ByteDance ecosystem and integrates with TikTok, enabling users to share their Lemon8 content on TikTok or vice versa.
- Shopping Integration: While still in the early stages, Lemon8 is beginning to implement features similar to those seen on other platforms like Xiao Hong Shu, allowing users to purchase items directly through the app.
Lemon8’s appeal lies in combining the viral nature of TikTok’s short videos with lifestyle and fashion content. It has gained a loyal following in Malaysia, especially among young adults familiar with ByteDance’s products.
4 Differences Between Xiao Hong Shu and Lemon8
Xiao Hong Shu Malaysia and Lemon8 are distinguished by several aspects, particularly their target audience, content formats, user experience, and engagement features.
| Feature | Xiao Hong Shu | Lemon8 |
| Target Audience | – Young Females – Millennials – Gen Z | – Males and Females |
| User Experience | – High-quality images, videos, and written content with seamless e-commerce integration. | – Relaxed and playful interface, – Emphasis on short videos and trends. – Content tends to be more casual. |
Content Types | – Detailed reviews – High-quality photos/videos. – The content is informative, with product recommendations and lifestyle tips. | – Short-form videos – Quick posts – Interactive content. – Encourages spontaneous and engaging content. |
Social Commerce | – Allows users to purchase products directly through the platform, especially in beauty and fashion. | – Evolving in terms of e-commerce features. – Xiao Hong Shu is more heavily focused on shopping. |
Which Platform is Better for Influencers and Brands?
Xiao Hong Shu Malaysia and Lemon8 have proven to be powerful platforms for influencers and brands, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages.
Xiao Hong Shu in Malaysia for Influencers and Brands
Xiao Hong Shu has firmly established itself as one of the most effective platforms for brand collaborations and influencer marketing in Malaysia. Influencers on the platform are known for providing genuine, insightful product reviews, particularly in the beauty and fashion sectors.
Brands looking to partner with influencers on Xiao Hong Shu can expect high engagement rates, especially when collaborating with micro-influencers with niche followings. The platform’s social commerce capabilities also provide a seamless experience for users, allowing them to shop directly from influencer posts. Major global and local brands use Xiao Hong Shu as a primary platform to reach potential customers.
Lemon8 in Malaysia for Influencers and Brands
Lemon8’s strength lies in its connection with TikTok, which helps drive viral engagement and interaction between influencers and their followers. Brands targeting a younger audience, mainly those interested in fashion, lifestyle, and fitness, will find Lemon8 a valuable platform for influencer marketing.
https://www.lemon8-app.com/ricejasminee/7126001228596724225?region=sg
Influencers on Lemon8 can create engaging, short-form video content that is highly shareable, allowing brands to showcase their products in fun and innovative ways. As Lemon8 continues to grow and refine its shopping features, it will likely become a more attractive option for brands seeking to reach a wider, younger audience.
https://www.lemon8-app.com/zawanizulhemi/7301152566321201665?region=my
Content Creation: Ease and Flexibility
Creating content on both platforms is relatively simple, but each has its unique approach.
Xiao Hong Shu
On Xiao Hong Shu, the content tends to be more polished and professional, focusing on quality over quantity. The platform allows for detailed posts with images, videos, and long-form captions. This approach is well-suited for brands that want to showcase their products in a comprehensive, story-driven format. Influencers and content creators can use editing tools and templates to enhance their posts.
Lemon8
Lemon8 leans more towards spontaneous, quick, and viral content. The platform supports both static images and short videos, with a heavy emphasis on the latter. Content creators can freely experiment with various styles, from casual video diaries to fun challenges. Lemon8’s integration with TikTok makes it easy for creators to repurpose content across platforms, expanding their reach.
https://www.lemon8-app.com/liyasurayaa/7344380223146000898?region=my&pid=website_seo_share
https://www.lemon8-app.com/rabak.haris/7307223952793928194?region=my&pid=website_seo_share
Growth Potential and Market Reach
In terms of growth, Xiao Hong Shu Malaysia has a more established presence with a loyal and active user base. However, Lemon8 is quickly gaining traction and is well-positioned to capture the attention of younger audiences already active on TikTok. As both platforms continue to evolve, their future in Malaysia will depend mainly on their ability to innovate and adapt to changing user needs.
Pros and Cons of Xiao Hong Shu vs Lemon8
Here is a table summarising the pros and cons of Xiao Hong Shu and Lemon8:
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
| Xiao Hong Shu | – Established a platform with high brand credibility – Excellent social commerce features – Strong influencer community – Effective for product discovery | – Highly competitive – Challenging new influencers to stand out |
| Lemon8 | – Innovative and easy-to-use platform – Integration with TikTok for viral content – Rapidly growing audience | – Still in the early stages of e-commerce – Newer platform with less brand penetration |
This table clearly shows each platform’s strengths and challenges, making comparing their advantages and drawbacks easier.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Xiao Hong Shu and Lemon8 offer unique advantages for businesses and influencers in Malaysia looking to engage with a young, digitally savvy audience. Xiao Hong Shu excels with its established platform, commerce features, and credible influencer community, making it an excellent choice for brands focusing on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products. However, its competitive nature can make it harder for new influencers to break through.
On the other hand, Lemon8 offers a fresh and innovative space with the potential for viral content creation, mainly through its integration with TikTok. Though it’s still in its early stages, the platform is rapidly growing and evolving, making it a promising choice for those interested in experimenting with new trends and engaging content formats.
Newnormz, a leading social media marketing agency, can help optimise your presence and tailor strategies for maximum engagement for brands looking to leverage these platforms effectively. With expertise in digital marketing and social media strategies, NewNormz assists businesses in navigating these dynamic platforms, ensuring that your marketing efforts resonate with the right audience. Whether you choose Xiao Hong Shu or Lemon8, having a well-rounded social media approach is key to fostering brand loyalty and growing your business in today’s digital world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Lemon8 A Good Platform For Influencer Marketing In Malaysia?
Yes, Lemon8 has been rapidly growing and offers a fresh environment for influencer marketing. The platform’s integration with TikTok helps influencers create viral content, and it has the potential to reach a younger audience interested in lifestyle, fitness, and entertainment. While it’s still developing its e-commerce capabilities, it’s a promising platform for engaging content.
2. Which Platform Is Better For Businesses In Malaysia: Xiao Hong Shu Or Lemon8?
Both platforms have their strengths. Xiao Hong Shu is more established, has strong social commerce features, and has a loyal user base, especially in the beauty and fashion sectors. Lemon8, while newer, has the potential for viral content creation and is growing rapidly, making it ideal for businesses looking to engage with younger, trend-conscious audiences.
3. Can I Sell Products Directly On Xiao Hong Shu Or Lemon8?
Xiao Hong Shu has a well-integrated social commerce feature, allowing users to purchase products directly through the platform, particularly in beauty and lifestyle categories. Lemon8 is still in its early stages of e-commerce but may introduce more shopping features in the future.
