My summary of BeReal before using it – A very popular social media app, probably targeting the same audience as TikTok.

How does BeReal explain itself in the first minute? – “bereal. your friends for real” is what I see when I search for BeReal on the app store. These are the main features that are mentioned in the app store:

• One notification sent to everyone
• 2 minutes to share what you’re up to
• All your friends post at the same time
• Comment and react with RealMojis
• Keep your friends all day with you
• Go back in time with your Memories

What happens next? I see a number of introductory screens that quickly explain how BeReal works: users have max. 2 minutes to record a snapshot of what they’re doing, with your friends sharing their snapshots at exactly the same time.

Onboarding on BeReal is straightforward and as you would expect. At the end of the onboarding process, there’s a screen urging me to allow notifications as “the only way to know when to post a BeReal!”

The next step is for me to create my first post. Only when I start posting can I see my friends’ post on my BeReal discovery feed.

To create my first post, I need to give the app needs access to my smartphone cameras. There’s a two minute timer during which I need to take the picture and share. I can choose between sharing my post via the global feed or with my friends only. I also have the choice of including my geolocation as part of my post and I can add a caption once the post is live.

Main learning: Have to admit, I was definitely thrown by the ‘immediate’ and unfiltered nature of BeReal!

Related links for further learning:

1. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/bereal-app-social-media-authenticity-surging-rcna24883
2. https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/29/apple-announces-winners-of-the-app-store-awards-for-2022/
3. https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-bereal/
4. https://www.howtogeek.com/829769/what-is-bereal-and-why-is-everyone-copying-it/