Founded in late 2019 by Alexis Barreyat and Kévin Perreau, French app BeReal really started making waves in 2020 during the very first confinement.
How does it work? Randomly throughout the day, the application sends a notification to users simultaneously. They then have just 2 minutes to take a photo of the moment. Using the front and rear cameras of their latest smartphone, users can see what their friends are doing at the same time. Slumped on the sofa, on the subway to work, buried in bed with their make-up off, or with an acne mask on their face, it’s sometimes pretty funny to see what our loved ones are actually doing. Nevertheless, we can’t see what they’re doing if they don’t play along and post at the given moment. The rule is to first “take your own BeReal” so you can see what others are up to. It’s 50/50! We play too, otherwise it’s not fair!
The question is: how has the new BEREAL social network fared against its competitors? In what ways does the app counter Instagram and Pinterest?
What sets BeReal apart from its competitors is its very short and simple use. In fact, after just 3 minutes, you’re already up and running. Almost unimaginable when you compare it to Instagram, where you can spend hours on it. This new app is all the rage because it requires neither time nor superficial attention. Practical, isn’t it 😉
BeReal is all about authenticity, reality and honesty. In just 2 minutes, BeReal users don’t have time to put together a photo worthy of Instagram’s biggest influencers. It’s impossible to retouch anything on the photo or add a filter that would benefit us. Gone are the days of sophisticated staging, excessively retouched images and perfect bodies. The hashtag “No Filter” will never match BeReal’s authenticity. That’s why this app has been creating a buzz for almost two years now. Authenticity is almost becoming fashionable… and seducing more than a few! You too? 😏
Users can choose whether to share their photos with friends or the general public. Likes don’t exist, nor do shares, however, it is possible to react to BeReals with “RealMojis” expressing joy, sadness, or even excitement in the form of little emojis with your reaction. In addition to this, you can also comment under your friends’ BeReals. When one of your friends has just posted theirs, you’ll automatically receive a notification.
The application now boasts over 5 million downloads worldwide and more than 2.5 million daily active users. After doing the rounds in France, its success has spread to the United States. The application is a hit! Americans have become fans of this new application thanks to its unique principle, which sets it apart from other social networks.
This new social network has become one of Instagram’s main competitors. But why? Unlike the queen of hashtags, BeReal advocates authenticity and reality in our photos. Like it, Instagram has been much criticized lately for its lack of transparency and honesty. Many of its users, especially teenagers, don’t feel good about themselves because they’re constantly comparing themselves to the people they follow, whether it’s their lifestyle or their looks. It’s easy to manipulate your followers by adding a touch of Photoshop or a green background to make them think you’re basking in the sun of the Seychelles. Staging worthy of the greatest Hollywood comedies! ✨✨
Recent studies have revealed that Instagram creates a lot of complexes for its users due to the numerous filters it offers. As a result, more and more young people are undergoing cosmetic surgery to redo their noses or lips, in order to fit in with the Instagram codes. And yet, the basic principle of Instagram was simply to share photos. Today, it’s the application where you’re constantly looking for attention and likes.
The creator of BeReal wanted to innovate by creating a new concept to promote transparency, where beauty filters and artifice don’t exist. From now on, users can show off their natural beauty, without the risk of being criticized by anyone. The application has reinvented social networking with instant sharing. But will the phenomenon last?
