Aren’t we all exhausted by social media apps and accounts filled with fake filters that promote an edited notion of perfection?
BeReal is a new social media app that encourages you to be authentic. What sets it apart is that you can post only once a day, there are no filters, and both your front and rear cameras take photos simultaneously, leaving no room for hiding.
Let’s explore what this new app has to offer.
Table of Contents
What is BeReal?
As I mentioned, the BeReal app is a photo-sharing platform that encourages users to be authentic and share glimpses of their daily lives—unedited, raw images, just as they are. No filters, no effects.
Although it was founded and released in 2019, it began to grow significantly by mid-2022, gaining peak popularity due to extensive media coverage. It has since become more popular in the United States than in any other country.
BeReal has surpassed 20 million downloads and currently holds its highest position on Apple’s App Store charts.
I started using the app quite recently, and to be frank, I was confused at first. For instance, how do I take a photo? Why can’t I post several photos in a day? However, I must say, I’m growing to love it more and more each day.
I won’t lie; I was somewhat late to discover the app, and I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted another app that I had to post to regularly.
However…
BeReal truly is something new, and now I believe I like it even more than Instagram and other highly popular apps.
According to SimilarWeb, BeReal has experienced substantial growth in recent months. In August, BeReal attracted 120k visitors, compared to approximately 50k in July.
Achieving more than double growth in just one month speaks volumes about this new social media app.
Who Uses BeReal
The BeReal app is most popular among Gen Z.
The largest age group using BeReal consists of users aged 25 to 31, closely followed by those aged 18 to 24. As expected, the smallest groups are those aged 55 to 64 and over 65.
Regarding gender, I found it somewhat surprising that well over half of the users are male, at nearly 60%, while women make up just over 40% of the users, according to SimilarWeb demographics.
Unfortunately, data for non-binary users is not currently available.
How Does BeReal Work and What Makes it Special?
BeReal has many features that distinguish it from other social media networks.
For one, it wasn’t designed for endless scrolling and posting, so there isn’t even an opportunity to waste time on it.
Another unique aspect of BeReal is that the app sends you a notification at a random time each day, prompting you to take two photos.
The Special BeReal camera captures one photo each with your front and back cameras, but you won’t be able to see both photos while taking them. This way, you can show the world (or your friends, if you choose to post privately) your authentic self. No staged scenes, no filters, no edits.
Since you cannot edit your photos, everything you post on BeReal will reflect real life.
Or you might end up looking a bit crazy, like I do here:
Furthermore, the app notifies users in the same general location (Europe, Americas, Asia, etc.) simultaneously. From the moment you open the app, you will have two minutes to take and post your photo.
You can take and retake the photo as many times as you wish, but if your two-minute countdown reaches zero before you post your daily photo, you’re finished for the day, and there will be no real-life post from you on that day.
There is a minor downside to this. Since many people will be posting simultaneously, it is possible for the server to become overcrowded and slow down. However, if you click the “post” button before the clock reaches zero, there is no need to worry.
This has happened to me only once since I started using it, but I must mention it for the sake of transparency, right!? 🙂
In any case, let’s move forward.
You will never know the exact time the notification will arrive, and since it can come at the most unexpected moments, you are encouraged to take a random photo of your experience and share your day with your friends.
I received all of my notifications between 12 PM and 5 PM, so there’s no need to worry about it interrupting your sleep.
Now, you can choose to post your photo privately, allowing only your friends to see it, or you can post your BeReal publicly. In this case, the post will appear in the Discovery feed, giving others the opportunity to find your profile and potentially become your followers.
What happens if you miss the notification?
I should mention that the two-minute countdown on this photo-sharing app does not begin until you open the app. Therefore, if you are at work, in an important meeting, or in any situation where taking photos is inappropriate, you can wait and open the app once you are ready to take a shot.
While this allows you some time to stage both a selfie and the rear camera view, it takes away from the fun, doesn’t it? So, simply share something from your everyday life and enjoy the party!
If you are late to post that day, there will be an “Xh late” note on your post:
How Long Does a BeReal Last?
Your BeReal will be visible to others only from the time you post it until the next BeReal notification.
This may resemble Instagram stories to some extent, where a story lasts for 24 hours. However, since you will not receive your BeReal notification at the same time each day and can post a little late, the duration of your BeReal varies.
You will, however, be able to view your previous BeReal posts on the memory board.
My First Experience with BeReal
When I first downloaded BeReal, I had no idea what to expect. I had only heard about it in passing (quite a few times, in fact), and after some consideration, I decided I wanted to discover what the excitement was all about.
After entering my name and username, I created a new profile on yet another social network, and almost immediately, I received a notification that it was time to BeReal.
However, I haven’t read anything that was written below, so I had no idea that once I opened the app, I would only have 2 minutes to take a photo.
My first post appeared as follows:
I also had a rather active day and wanted to post a few photos, but I had no idea I couldn’t. As a result, I spent an embarrassingly long time feeling frustrated because the app wouldn’t allow me to take another photo. I actually found the interface to be quite counterintuitive! 😅
What do I dislike about BeReal?
We can all agree that this is a distinctive concept for photo sharing.
We have all become not only accustomed to filters but also comfortable using them to create the perfect setting and scene.
This was the first aspect of BeReal that felt strange.
As someone who doesn’t enjoy being photographed, I felt somewhat exposed and vulnerable in front of the camera.
However, I came to appreciate all of that.
However, what I didn’t like and still don’t like about BeReal is that it fosters another form of addiction.
You may not post a million times a day or scroll endlessly, but I’ve noticed that I reach for my phone several times during the early part of my day to ensure I don’t miss the BeReal notification.
Wrap Up
BeReal may appear to be a straightforward photo-sharing app, but it offers much more.
It encourages you to be your authentic self and share moments from your daily life with your friends and followers, without edits or filters. It’s not designed for wasting time or endless scrolling, so you can only post once a day at a random and unpredictable time.
So, go ahead and download BeReal, and add me as your friend. I want to see what your daily life is like!
