BeReal

BeReal is a French social media app released in 2020.[2] It was developed by Alexis Barreyat and gained popularity with Gen Z in early 2022.

BeReal
Original author(s)Alexis Barreyat
Initial release2020
PlatformiOS, Android[1]
Websitehttps://bereal.com

It functions by asking users to share a photo from whatever they are doing during a randomly selected two-minute window each day. Critics noted its emphasis on authenticity, which some felt crossed the line into mundanity.

History

The app was developed by Alexis Barreyat.[2] Barreyat formerly worked for GoPro.[3] The app gained popularity with Gen Z in early 2022.[2][4] It spread widely first on college campuses, partially due to a paid ambassador program.[3][5] By April, it had been downloaded over 6.8 million times, with the majority of the downloads coming in 2022.[1] BeReal received a $30 million funding round from Andreessen Horowitz.[3]

Features

Once per day, BeReal notifies all users that a two-minute window to post a photo is open, and asks users to share an image from whatever they are doing at that moment. The given window varies from day to day. If a user posts their daily image later than the two-minute window, other users are notified of the fact. Users may not post more than one photo per day.[6][7] Because of its daily cycle of engagement, it has been compared to Wordle, which gained popularity earlier in 2022.[1][8]

BeReal has been described as designed to compete with Instagram, while simultaneously de-emphasizing social media addiction and overuse.[2][7] The app does not allow any photo filters or other editing, and has no advertising or follower counts.[1]

Reception

Jason Koebler, a writer for Vice, wrote that in contrast to Instagram, which presents an unattainable view of people's lives, BeReal instead "makes everyone look extremely boring."[9] Niklas Myhr, a professor of social media at Chapman University, argued that depth of engagement may determine whether the app is a passing trend or has "staying power."[1] Kelsey Weekman, a reporter for Buzzfeed News, noted that the app's unwillingness to "glamorize the banality of life" made it feel "humbling", despite its emphasis on authenticity.[8]

References
  1. Brown, Dalvin; James, Cordilla (2022-04-20). "Why BeReal, a Social-Media App With No Photo Filters, Is Attracting Gen Z". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. Davis, Wynne (2022-04-16). "BeReal is Gen Z's new favorite social media app. Here's how it works". NPR. Archived from the original on 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  3. Goggin, Ben (21 April 2022). "What is BeReal? The new 'authentic' app taking hold across college campuses". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  4. Fischer, Sara (2022-04-11). "Gen Z's new favorite app is growing like crazy". Axios. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  5. Karimi, Faith (21 April 2022). "This social app prohibits edited photos to encourage users to be more authentic. It's growing fast". CNN. Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  6. Rogers, Reece. "BeReal Basics: How to Use the 'Unfiltered' Social Media App". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  7. Mamona, Sheilla (2022-04-14). "The BeReal App Could End Your Obsession With Social Media Perfection". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  8. Weekman, Kelsey. "BeReal Made Me Realize All My Friends Are Hanging Out Without Me". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  9. Koebler, Jason (11 April 2022). "BeReal Isn't Real and Makes Everyone Look Extremely Boring". www.vice.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
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