What is BeReal and why is everyone talking about it?

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(Pocket-lint) – Social media is dominated by a small number of companies, and the only real success we’ve seen in years is TikTok.

Now it looks like newcomer BeReal is picking up the slack, as the app is ranked number one in the social media category of the iOS App Store.

But if you’re not up to date with the latest Gen Z trends, you might not be in the know yet. So we dove into this popular new app to see what all the fuss is about.

What is BeReal?

BeReal describes itself as “the easiest photo sharing app” and prompts users to take and share a daily photo in two minutes.

Every day at a different time, everyone is notified simultaneously to capture their photo. The brand talks about a “new and unique way to find out who your friends really are in their daily lives.”

It was founded in 2020 by Kevin Perreau and Alexis Barreyat, and since then has amassed over 10 million downloads and a valuation of $600 million (as of May 2022). In March and April alone, the app saw a 157% increase in downloads, so it’s safe to say it’s on the rise.

How does BeReal work?

As the description suggests, users generally receive one notification per day, at a random time, asking them to take their photos.

Although the time is random, it is the same for all users, which fosters a sense of community similar to that of Wordle.

Everyone has two minutes to take their picture, otherwise it will be marked as late.

The photo is taken using the front and rear cameras, allowing you to share what you’re doing and react to the situation.

There are no filters or image editing, it’s a raw snapshot of your daily activities. This concept is sort of a reaction to Instagram’s craze for overly polished and planned photos. You won’t find any of that here, just unfiltered reality.

In the app, you are prompted to add your phone number and allow access to your contacts. This makes it very easy to find and add your real-life friends.

Along with a News Feed showing your friends’ posts, you also have a discovery tab that lets you find new people to follow. You can also add your photos to the discovery feed, if you want, otherwise only your friends will be able to see them.

Finally, you can leave comments on your friends’ posts or react with a “RealMoji”, which is basically sending a selfie-like reaction photo to the post.

How to get BeReal

BeReal is available as an app for Android phones and iPhones. You cannot currently access the application on your desktop computer.

If you want to try it, you can find it on Google Play or iOS App Store.

Written by Luke Baker.