What Is BeReal and How Does It Work? I Tried It for 7 Days to Find Out

While you can retake your BeReal as many times as you like during the two-minute countdown, once you’ve pressed « post, » you can only delete and retake it once. According to the app’s description on Apple’s App Store, BeReal encourages people to « show your friends who you really are, for once, » by removing filters and opportunities to stage, over-think, or edit photos. « I do think one of the big challenges people feel on social media is I’m seeing everybody else’s highlight reel, but I’m experiencing the fullness of my own life with all of the mundane stuff, » Stedman said. « To be able to get this reminder that everyone else’s lives largely are made up of mundane moments too, I can definitely see some value in that. »

I very quickly got a sense of what the app was all about because I didn’t have time to assess the lighting or fix my hair before having to take the shot. When posting a BeReal, the app takes a picture using both your front and back camera, so other people can see what you look like and where you are. BeReal sounds like it would serve a similar function to some group chats Stedman already has in his life, he said. These are places where not every photo has to be polished, where friends share links and are more intimate about the details of their lives. Stedman started working on his book after he went through a difficult moment in his life, and found that he was not telling that story online, where he was posting as if everything was fine. « Snapchat is more like you’re sending this to one person, if you post on your story, you’re trying to look good, » she said.

Can you gain followers on BeReal?

The curation that individuals do on other social media platforms is part of what BeReal is trying to break with the lack of filters and the timestamps it has. Users can also see where their friends are on a map and discover other publicly posted BeReals. The catch is before you view anyone else’s post for the day, you have to post your own photos. If you haven’t heard of the BeReal app and you’re not a member of Gen Z, you’re forgiven. The social media app is the latest to grab the attention of the younger generation – and its popularity is rising quickly. After a user posts their own image, they can see others’ and react to them.

This takes away the pressure of wanting to curate a perfect public image and brings back the fun of sharing content only with your friends.
After a couple of years of relative obscurity, it rapidly gained popularity in early and mid-2022, before experiencing a decrease in use in 2023.
If done correctly, the images are an authentic representation of a person’s day-to-day life.
In July, right when BeReal reached number one in the US, Instagram launched a dual-camera feature for stories that lets you record or photograph something while also showing your reaction.
To react to someone else’s post on BeReal, you can’t just hit a « heart » or « thumbs up » button.

The app provides you with a way to keep up with what your friends are doing everyday, while also being able to authentically document your day-to-day life. However, if you don’t want to commit to posting everyday, this app may not be for you. Even for late BeReals, a two-minute timer is onscreen and counting down as you take (or retake) pictures. Similar to the earliest forms indoor thermometer app s5 of social networking sites (remember AIM), on the app you have friends instead of followers and only these select groups of people can see your posts. This takes away the pressure of wanting to curate a perfect public image and brings back the fun of sharing content only with your friends. BeReal notifications go off once a day at different, random times for all the users.

Features

Overall, Stedman says a key factor to consider when you’re connecting with friends in DMs or on a larger social platform is how exactly you’re going about it. « A big part of why I wrote it is because I was trying to figure out whether or not the internet online pdf editor adobe fill and sign app is a place where we can feel human, » he said. « But the fact of the matter is there is kind of nothing more human than curating a self that you share with the world. » This year alone, downloads have grown by at least 315%, according to data from Apptopia.

Then every day at a different time, the app alerts users that it’s time to take a photo of what they are doing in the moment.
Your friends are also supposed to get the notification at the same time.
BeReal is a rare social media experience that does not feel like a constant competition for maximum exposure.

BeReal was initially released in January 2020 but didn’t skyrocket until this year. This year, BeReal’s popularity has soared, accumulating over 56 million downloads, according to the The Washington Post. Out of its global audience, the app is the most popular in the United States. As of November 2022, BeReal is ranked number six in the app store for top free social-networking apps for iPhone, trailing shortly behind industry giants such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Reporting inappropriate content

This includes spam and advertising as well as bullying and discrimination. However, the company itself is a hosting company, which means it is not required to monitor the information others post. In July, right when BeReal reached number one in the US, Instagram <--more--> launched a dual-camera feature for stories that lets you record or photograph something while also showing your reaction. On BeReal, what could easily become an anxiety-inducing race against the clock is skillfully contoured into a low-stakes posting experience.

These are called « realmojis, » where instead of commenting on someone’s post with an emoji, your facial expression becomes an emoji in itself.
On BeReal, you can only post photos with the two-box, front and back camera format when you are prompted.
While the search for authenticity online may be a fruitless one, the app is well-designed and easy to pick up.
I kept getting frustrated that my pictures weren’t as polished or aesthetic as I would usually want them to be, but I’m slowly starting to enjoy the fact that there’s no pressure to look my best on the app.

I was hesitant about downloading it because I already spend too much time on TikTok and have been trying to cut down my screen time. But as each of my friends started using BeReal, they began to rave about how fun it was to keep in touch with friends throughout the day on the app, so I eventually caved to the peer pressure and FOMO. Before submitting the photo, they must choose an audience (friends only or everyone).

I tried BeReal, the buzzy photo-sharing app trying to stop people using filters, and after 7 days I was hooked

BeReal encourages participation by asking users to share content before they can view other people’s posts. Retakes are allowed and you can still post if you miss the window, but in both cases, your friends will see that you retook the image or posted late. In an age where social media features heavily edited photos, an app like BeReal can encourage authenticity. Many young people have embraced the app because of this, seeing many benefits.

Users can also see where their friends are on a map and discover other publicly posted BeReals.
The person who’s post you are reacting to will be able to see the picture of you reacting to their post.
The app was started by French entrepreneur Alexis Barreyat in 2020, but at least 65% of lifetime downloads happened in the first quarter of 2022.
According to the app’s description on Apple’s App Store, BeReal encourages people to « show your friends who you really are, for once, » by removing filters and opportunities to stage, over-think, or edit photos.
According to the BeReal website, you can only delete your post once a day after you’ve posted it on your feed.
You only have two minutes to respond, and a two-image collage is captured from your front and back cameras.

With BeReal, I don’t feel a lot of pressure to post every day because there is no film or finished product to look forward to. I’ve gotten used to posting when I feel like it, and it’s really nice to be able to look back on your « memories » and remember what you were doing on any given day. It seems the app is trying to discourage users from spending too much time on their posts by not allowing them to have multiple attempts.

BeReal 1.8.0

Your friends are also supposed to get the notification at the same time. BeReal’s Terms of Use encourages users to report any content that is sexual or pornographic, or related to hate speech, extremism, violence, suicide or self-harm. Photos, RealMojis and comments can all be reported if they fall into these categories or breach other items on the Terms of Use.

Users can also share their location and save the image to their device. If the photo is shared outside of the standard two minute window, other users can see a note that tells them this. I’ve also found that BeReal isn’t an app I would spend hours procrastinating on. I usually post my picture, briefly scroll through and react to my friends’ pictures, and then get on with the rest of my day. It has felt like a refreshing and healthy way to use social media that I’ve really come to appreciate.

It is similar in some ways to Wordle because of its daily cycle that promotes moderation of screen time instead of endless scrolling. To sign up for BeReal, all you need to do is go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, download the app and create an account. I turned my location off for privacy reasons and encourage everyone who tries BeReal to avoid publishing potentially sensitive content, especially if you have the settings open to the public. After a couple of years of relative obscurity, it rapidly gained popularity in early and mid-2022, before experiencing a decrease in use in 2023. I never bothered with 1 Second Everyday because it felt like it would take a lot of effort to remember to post daily, and I knew I would be annoyed with myself if I missed one.

Before submitting the photo, they must choose an audience (friends only or everyone).
In December 2022, similar to Spotify’s « Wrapped, » BeReal launched a feature involving a video of a compilation of users’ BeReal posts of 2022.
BeReal might be the closest thing to an unvarnished social media experience, although you do get two minutes to get the best snap of course.
There is no option to post additional content, such as other photos, because that would take away from the « in the moment » aspect of the app.

For example, only so many retakes are feasible within 120 seconds, so I felt less internal pressure to catch a flattering selfie. As with many other social medias, the popularity of BeReal has led to impacts in the workplace. However, employees’ BeReal posts could be beneficial for marketing, and companies can benefit as it appeals to millennials and Generation Z. One of my favorite features on BeReal is the « profile » page, where you can see all your previous posts, which the app calls your « memories. » Even if you post just a few minutes late, the app notifies all your friends to let them know you’ve just made a « late » post, which to me, felt a bit like a mark of shame.

What is the BeReal app?

When the notification goes off, you have two minutes to post a picture. If you go past that time your post will be marked as late, showing all your friends that you in fact can’t actually BeReal. Buzz continues to grow, although BeReal has yet to prove its staying power. When attending the University of Kansas, I went to a boozy party for a hot, alternative social media platform, wandering home with multiple branded koozies and a new app on my phone.

The idea is you take a photo of whatever you’re doing at that time, no matter how mundane or exciting.
Overall, Stedman says a key factor to consider when you’re connecting with friends in DMs or on a larger social platform is how exactly you’re going about it.
For example, instead of the thumbs up emoji, a user could send themselves give a thumbs up.
The company has received millions of dollars from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent player in Silicon Valley that has thrown cash at Clubhouse, OpenSea, and Substack in recent years.

Family photo albums or homemade movies from childhood are also snapshots of the best moments. The parameters in place are billed by the app as « a new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life. » There’s also a comments section under every person’s post, where friends can chime in with their witty (or not so witty) remarks, making for a lot of wholesome fun all around. When I tried to delete my unflattering BeReal post, I was given a list of options and asked to tick the reason I wanted to delete my picture. In total, Mueller said she had around 50 friends on BeReal, a much smaller number than the 2,000 or so followers she has on Instagram. And unlike Instagram or Snapchat, where Mueller says there is pressure « to look good, » she thinks BeReal doesn’t have that fake feeling to it.

What is BeReal?

Meredith Mueller is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where she’s studying journalism. Mueller downloaded BeReal a couple of weeks ago after she heard about it from her roommate. The app is targeting college students with its ambassador program and it seems to be working. BeReal was launched in 2020 but has rocketed up the download list this year.

BeReal is a French social media photo sharing app released in 2020, gaining popularity in 2022.
You could be walking to class, taking a bus to work, or maybe you get the notification right as you’re sitting down for dinner or on a bike ride.
I usually post my picture, briefly scroll through and react to my friends’ pictures, and then get on with the rest of my day.
If the photo is shared outside of the standard two minute window, other users can see a note that tells them this.

Once the daily notification is sent, users lose the ability to see others’ BeReals from the previous day. Furthermore, users cannot see any of the current day’s BeReals until they upload their own. While on-time BeReals show the time it was uploaded, late BeReals uploaded after the two-minute window only show how late the poster is.

How do you sign up for BeReal?

You need an account to get started on BeReal, which is available for iPhone and Android. Once you’ve downloaded the app, it will request access to your contacts to connect with friends who may use the service already (you can decline, if you wish). Unless your Rolodex is full of trendsetters, many of your friends may not use the platform yet. Leaving time-sensitive notifications on is crucial if you aim to post within the daily two minutes. BeReal might be the closest thing to an unvarnished social media experience, although you do get two minutes to get the best snap of course.

When the notification goes off, you have two minutes to post a picture.
I started to really like this feature, as it allowed me to add context to my BeReal and explain what I was doing.
Similar to the earliest forms of social networking sites (remember AIM), on the app you have friends instead of followers and only these select groups of people can see your posts.
If you convince a couple of friends to participate, the app can be off-the-cuff fun.
The social media app is the latest to grab the attention of the younger generation – and its popularity is rising quickly.
When I tried to delete my unflattering BeReal post, I was given a list of options and asked to tick the reason I wanted to delete my picture.

All you have to do is open the app, snap a selfie with your front camera and then a photo of your surroundings with the back camera. Within the two-minute period, you can retake the photo as many times as you’d like until you get the picture you desire. BeReal sends users a prompt at a random time each day, urging them to snap a picture and send it to their friends. You only have two minutes to respond, and a two-image collage is captured from your front and back cameras.