Written By: Natalie Choo, Sarah Mustaffa
Tired of scrolling through picture-perfect selfies and overly staged avocado toasts? Enter BeReal— the app that ditches the polished perfection and celebrates life in its raw, unedited glory.
BeReal is a social media app designed to showcase authentic moments from users’ daily lives, steering away from the polished and curated content often seen on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Once a day, users receive a notification prompting them to take a photo within two minutes. Using both the front and back cameras, the app captures a candid snapshot of the user and their surroundings, offering a genuine glimpse into their life. BeReal encourages users to share unfiltered, real-time moments with friends, celebrating authenticity over perfection.
BeReal received praise from social media influencers like YouTuber Evan Edinger, known for his travel vlogs and humor, as well as mainstream media like the New York Times. Articles and reviews highlighted the app’s refreshing take on social media which attracted more users to be interested in trying something new.
As more users joined, the app’s network effects kicked in. When youths view their friends reposting their own BeReals and incorporate it into other platforms such as reposting it on their Instagram stories, they might feel inclined to join BeReal and the app therefore becomes more engaging. The more friends you have on the app, the more fun and valuable the experience becomes.
Nur Hazdeanna is a 17 year-old currently in the Diploma of Optometry in Singapore Polytechnic and is one such user.
“I initially started using BeReal because of the influence of those around me, and I was curious to experience firsthand the buzz surrounding it and how it could enhance my social interactions,” said Hazdeanna
“I like that the app is super easy to use, and it notifies me randomly every day to post what I’m doing at the moment. I enjoy seeing how my friends are doing and sharing quick updates, which helps us stay connected effortlessly especially because we don’t meet very often.”
Like Hazdeanna, plenty of other users are fascinated by the app. In fact, BeReal was made a sensation on the Internet back in early 2022 due to its unique features and positive impacts, such as boosting self-esteem and reinforcing friendships.
One of its most notable impacts is the axing of social comparison among users. Users are made to show off their bona fide selves due to the app’s spontaneous nature, inhibiting the ability to curate a perfect set-up for a flawless picture. And with the new Behind The Scenes feature, people will be able to see the few seconds leading up to their friend’s picture.
Through BeReal, users gain an unvarnished view of their peers’ lives, fostering self-acceptance and reducing harmful comparisons often seen on traditional social media. Unlike platforms where curated, idealized portrayals dominate, BeReal’s authentic approach helps regulate self-worth. A study by York University in 2024 found that even a brief break from mainstream social media significantly improved body image and mental well-being, especially among young women, by reducing exposure to filtered and unrealistic content.
Another prevalent impact is the deepening of relationships among friends. In an opinion article by Apartment Therapy, the author states that the app’s transparency allowed her to get a glimpse of various sides of her friends she has not seen before. It even made her feel closer to them, and pushed her to initiate further conversion with them. Through this, users learn even more about those they care about. Hence, it actively reinforces bonds as users feel a closer connection to their friends with each photo, and ultimately contributes to a stronger, more sincere friendship.
But that’s not to say that BeReal is totally foolproof. While the Behind The Scenes feature does allow for those short moments of realness, the function can easily be turned off. This strips away a layer of authenticity, and can even provide an opportunity for a staged photo, going against the app’s ethos of unfiltered moments.
Additionally, simply viewing pictures doesn’t necessarily mean deepening bonds. According to an article by Medium, good, authentic communication is the breeding ground for strong relationships. This includes both verbal conversation in reciprocity and non-verbal communication, such as physical touch.
If you’re not putting in the effort, a snapshot of someone’s life online won’t inherently mean you’re getting to know them more, and this applies to BeReal as well, despite its concept. Users can simply swipe away from their friend’s photo without engaging in any conversations or thinking anything of it, leading to a lack of emotional response. Deepened relationships are a result of emotional exchanges and meaningful conversations that cannot be guaranteed from simple photos without the effort to reach out. This may make the app more for consuming content than actually reinforcing relationships.
Dion Lai, 18, a student from Temasek Polytechnic’s Diploma in Communications & Media Management, is one of plenty youths who still frequent the app.
“I see it as a way to communicate. It’s not like other social media platforms where you can only see what others want you to. You’re able to interact with friends in real-time and have more genuine interactions with them.”
The authenticity of the app, along with its positive influences it has on youths and their relationships, has made it timeless.
However the overall popularity of the app is declining. According to the analytics firm Apptopia, the number of people who use BeReal daily has dropped significantly, a 61 percent decrease from its peak of 15 million in October 2022, leading to less than 6 million remaining as of March 2023. There have been discussions of the app being stressful due to time limits and random notifications, and some have even claimed that the app pushes the toxic narrative where we’re not truly ourselves if we’re wearing makeup or fashionable clothes.
Reina Chua, a student from Nanyang Polytechnic’s Diploma in Business Management, is one such user who does not see the appeal in the app.
“The idea of having to take photos at random, specific times each day sounds more like a hassle than anything. Why would I sit around and wait for the app to tell me to post a photo when I can just use Instagram stories anytime I want?” said Reina.
She added: “Plus, I don’t think it really adds any value to my life. I don’t see how random photos help me get to know my friends better. I just don’t see the point in it.”
With other apps that can provide the same effect and even more without restrictions and limitations, BeReal sometimes falls flat. In this changing media landscape with a myriad of social media apps in the market, its concept can either be a refreshing change or a pointless limitation.
Conclusion
With its high connectivity and one of a kind form of communication, BeReal has proved itself to be a remarkable application in the ever-growing social media landscape. While it can be restrictive and futile if not used with proper intentions, it is still a great way to keep up with peers and document even the most mundane of days. So, why not ‘be real’ and try it out today!
