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What is BeReal and why are people obsessed with the social media app?

Isabelle Docto
Isabelle Docto
|
Aug 9 2022, 9:34 pm
What is BeReal and why are people obsessed with the social media app?
BeReal

The internet moves fast, and social media apps are trying to keep up with users’ growing wants, needs, likes, and dislikes.

Sometimes, apps will introduce updates that users have been waiting for, like WhatsApp’s new privacy features.

Other times, social media companies will make updates that no one really asked for, like Instagram’s new “Notes” feature.

But since Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok’s inception, there hasn’t been a new social media app that rivals the big four in North America — until now.

The app is called BeReal, and it has taken over many phone screens over the past few months.

Founded by French developer Alexis Barreyat in January 2020, BeReal’s function is in its name. The app encourages people to “be real” by prompting users to share candid photos.

How does it work?

Every day at a random time (that differs day to day), the app sends out a push notification to all of its users simultaneously, prompting people to capture and share a photo in two minutes.

BeReal

BeReal

“A new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life,” explains the site.

The difference between this and a photo you can share on Snapchat or to your Instagram story? The camera takes a selfie and also takes a photo of what you’re looking at (Instagram is reportedly trying to copy this feature).

BeReal

BeReal

And due to the random nature of the notifications, you could really be doing anything and have to capture the moment. You could be in bed, doing work, or doing nothing necessarily “post worthy.”

Or you could be trying to put out a kitchen fire like this unfortunate soul.

Miss the notification right when it comes out? Not to worry. You can still snap a pic that’ll be marked as “late.” You also can’t view your friends’ posts until you’ve posted your own BeReal.

Your feed will look something like this with a “My Friends” and “Discovery” tab.

BeReal

Under the friends tab, you’re only able to see posts from the people you follow and who follow you back.

The “Discovery” tab is a bit like the wild west of BeReal — you can see people’s photos from anywhere around the world.

A majority of them are normal, but there are also plenty of chaotic posts, so venture with caution.

Luckily, your BeReal is private by default and only visible to your friends, unless you want it added to the pile under the “Discovery” tab. To do so, just make sure to click the public option before you upload your post.

Probably the most fun aspect of BeReal is being able to react to your friend’s post with your face!

BeReal

BeReal

The app calls these “RealMojis,” and you can snap a photo of your face that represents each emoji.

BeReal

And just like most photo-sharing apps, you can add a caption to your post, and people can comment.

Everyone’s obsessed

Even though BeReal has existed for about two years now, it only gained popularity earlier this year when young people (mostly Gen Z) began posting about the app on TikTok.

BeReal is currently in the top three free apps in the iOS App Store. The Verge reported that its total downloads are at an estimated 29.5 million.

Users are taking to Twitter to share their love for the app.

Many like it for its simplicity.

The app reminds others of the early, ad-free days of Instagram.

So much so, that this person says BeReal is better than Instagram.

Want to “be real”? The app is available for free on iOS and Android.

Isabelle DoctoIsabelle Docto
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