You may have already heard of BeReal, a new social media app that allows you to make just one post each day. But how does it work?
Depending on your time zone, you will get a notification from the app, and from the moment you open the app, you have a two-minute window to take your photo and post it – privately, to your friends, or on a discovery feed where others can find you.
- Once you get the notification click on it (timer will start counting)
- Your both cameras (front and back camera) will turn on
- Take your picture(s)
- Press share (choose whether to share with friends or with everyone on the app)
Let’s explore further!
Table of Contents
How to Post on BeReal App?
As you may have gathered so far, BeReal is a unique social media platform.
Yes, it is used for sharing photos like other social media platforms, but this one allows you to post only one per day – and at an unpredictable time.
On the day I installed BeReal, I had a very active day and wanted to share a few photos; however, I couldn’t.
It took me a while to understand how posting on BeReal actually works, and it’s not as complicated or mysterious as it may seem.
As this app is designed not for endless scrolling but for sharing regular moments from your everyday life, no matter how mundane a particular day may be, you can post only once each day at a random time assigned by the app.
Thus, there was no preparation for the significant moment, no staged shots, and no perfect scenography.
The app sends you a notification, typically between 10 AM and 10 PM, although I have never received one before 12 PM or after 5 PM. Once you open the app, you have two minutes to take and post a photo.
You can take and retake as many photos as you want within this time frame, but let’s be honest (haHA!), you can only manage so many retakes in two minutes.
Now, you can choose to post it to your private friend list or publicly on a Discovery page where others can find you. Some may even use it to locate friends.
There are no filters, no emoticons, and no effects – it is just you and your front and back cameras.
You can add captions if you wish.
What should I do if I don’t see the notification on time?
If you receive a BeReal alert within the 2-minute window after it appears, or if you’re in a situation where you can’t take out your phone to snap a photo, you can simply wait and open the app later in the day.
It’s important to remember that you don’t lose your post for a day if you take 2 minutes from a random moment when the daily notification arrives. The 2-minute countdown begins once you open the app.
While this approach allows you some time to plan your next shot, it takes away the fun, so don’t be that person! Keep the momentum going and take a spontaneous shot like everyone else. We want to see what you’re up to in your daily life 😉
I should also mention that your photos will receive an “Xh late” mark if you don’t post them within the designated time frame, even if it’s just later in the day.
What happens if I don’t post a photo within the two-minute time limit?
Once you open the app and the countdown begins, you can retake as many photos as you wish until you capture the one you want to post.
However, if the clock strikes zero and you still haven’t taken and posted the photo, you will not be able to post your daily photo that day at all.
So, once again, there’s no need to search for that perfect shot or take an imaginary photo that doesn’t reflect your everyday life. Just post a random photo like everyone else and enjoy the fun.
Can I edit photos?
No, there is no option to edit your photos, as the creators of the BeReal app encourage you to be authentic.
Currently, there are no options to add filters and effects that we are accustomed to, which are available in other social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.
What you can do, however, is add a caption to your photos. It doesn’t matter whether you do this before or after posting; that’s the only editing option available to you on BeReal.
Where can I post my BeReal photo?
If you are uncomfortable sharing your face on various apps with millions of random people you may never meet, you can post your photo privately, making it accessible only to your friends.
However, if you want to allow others to discover you, you can mark your posts to be displayed on the Discovery page as well, where others can find your account.
You can also add or remove your location if you wish.
Another option is to share the photo on other social media platforms; however, the front camera and rear camera squares will not be clickable.
Can I comment on someone’s BeReal post?
Yes, you can comment on posts made by others, including those of your friends and individuals from the Discover page.
You can also send an emoji, but a much more enjoyable option is to send a RealMoji.
What is a RealMoji?
RealMoji is similar to an emoji, but features your face instead.
Creating one is quite simple. Once you find a photo you wish to comment on with a RealMoji, click the small emoji icon located at the bottom right corner of the photo.
From that point on, a panel similar to those found in Instagram stories will appear, allowing you to send one of the five available emojis, or you can create your own.
The app will guide you in creating your RealMoji, but all you need to do is click and hold the circle that is about to take your photo.
Move the cursor into the circle, and you’re finished.
You can be as creative as you like here, but please be respectful! Nobody wants a 🍆 pic!
