7. Social Media

BeReal – A Step Toward Authenticity or Just Another Trend?

Would you consider yourself real? Authentic? In the ever-evolving world of social media, BeReal emerged with a refreshing promise: authenticity over aesthetics. Marketed as the antidote to curated feeds and highlight reels, BeReal encourages users to post unfiltered snapshots of their real lives once a day, at a randomly chosen time. BeReal is a photo-sharing social media app launched in 2020 by Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau, two developers from France. It quickly gained traction, particularly among Gen Z users, and by 2022, it experienced a major surge in popularity largely fueled by word-of-mouth and viral moments on TikTok and Twitter.

The app was created as a response to the hyper-curated nature of traditional social media platforms like Instagram, which are often criticized for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, social comparison, and inauthentic lifestyles.

What Makes BeReal Different?

Unlike platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, BeReal does not allow endless retakes, filters, or carefully timed uploads. You receive a daily notification and have two minutes to capture whatever you're doing both from your front and back camera. This spontaneous format discourages perfection and leans into the raw, messy, and honest moments of daily life.

It’s an admirable concept in a digital age driven by perfectionism and performative lifestyles. BeReal seems to say, “It’s okay to be boring, real, and unpolished.” That’s a radical message and one that resonates particularly with Gen Z users who crave transparency and mental health awareness.

BeReal gained traction particularly on college campuses and among younger users who were growing tired of performative social media. It also sparked debates about what it means to be "authentic" online, and whether an app can truly foster that in a meaningful way. By mid-2022, BeReal topped the App Store in several countries and was even Apple’s iPhone App of the Year. It also inspired copycat features on other platforms, including TikTok's "Now" and Instagram’s "Candid Stories," which mimic BeReal’s dual-camera spontaneity.

Pros: Why BeReal Matters

• Mental Health Boost: By removing the pressure to look perfect, BeReal could help reduce anxiety, comparison, and FOMO.

• Authentic Connections: The app promotes intimacy by limiting your audience to close friends. It’s less about influence and more about connection.

• Cultural Shift: BeReal pushes back against the performative nature of other platforms and encourages people to accept and embrace the mundane.

Cons: Where It Falls Short

• Limited Engagement: With only one post a day, the app lacks the addictive quality of other social networks, which may be good for users but not for retention.

• Staged “Realness” Still Exists: Users can post “late,” which many do after crafting a better moment. So, while the idea is authenticity, the execution can still be gamed.

• Monotony Over Time: Once the novelty fades, users may lose interest if they feel their daily lives aren’t “interesting enough,” ironically feeding the same insecurities BeReal aims to eliminate.

@ronanlij i remember the scenes in the middle of class whenever people would get the notification and now everybody’s forgotten about the app 😭 #bereal #fyp #downfall ♬ Dust Collector - ybg lucas

Final Take: A Refreshing Concept with Room to Grow

BeReal is more than just an app it’s a social commentary. It reflects a growing demand for authenticity in digital spaces and challenges us to rethink how we present ourselves online. But it’s also a reminder that tools can only do so much real change comes from how we choose to engage with them. I love using the app myself. 

Let’s be real: BeReal isn’t perfect. But maybe that’s the point.