Following the trend is a priority for the modern generation. BeReal is also trending these days among Gen Z. However, many people are not aware of it and want an answer to the simple question: “What is BeReal?” Unlike traditional social media platforms, BeReal is a platform that encourages users to ditch the filters and create their feeds. It is obvious to see that it offers an authentic way to let people connect with friends. But what draws Gen Z to its unfiltered experience?
In this blog, you are going to cover everything. Most importantly, parents will get to see some helpful tips on understanding and managing safe BeReal use for their kids. So, let’s check out this growing BeReal phenomenon.
What is BeReal, and how does it work?
In this section, you will see what BeReal is and how it works:
What is BeReal?
So, first things first – “What is BeReal?” In the space of social media, here is the next growing application that is grabbing everyone’s attention. It is BeReal. This platform is dedicated to encouraging users to share their authentic and unfiltered daily moments with each other. You can see that its focus is on spontaneity and realism. The goal is to share what you are really doing at that particular moment. Besides, the aim is to keep the unreal polished aesthetics every time with apps like Instagram back and value the simplicity and honesty of everyday life.
Moreover, BeReal doesn’t include any filters, likes, or follower counts. Isn’t it interesting? Obviously, yes, as it encourages the value of authenticity among people. In this way, everyone can keep their interactions simple and genuine.
How does BeReal work?
After understanding what is BeReal, let’s see how it actually works. Every day, BeReal will send you a notification at any time. When you get it, you need to snap a photo using your smartphone’s “front” and “back” cameras. The app will allow you two minutes to capture the image and post it. If you are not able to share it within the timeframe, it will get labeled as “late.”
One thing you need to remember while using the BeReal app is that you can view posts of your friends only after you upload your own. Besides, the users who are watching the posts can also react to them. It is possible with the use of “RealMoji.” It is a selfie mimicking an emoji.
Keep your kids safe online with real-time monitoring while they explore BeReal.
Why is BeReal popular?
When you get a clear idea about what BeReal is, see why it is getting popular. The following information will help you to understand this:
Appeal to Gen Z and younger demographics
A surprising fact about BeReal is that it is highly appealing to Gen Z and younger people. The main reason behind its amazing popularity is its emphasis on authenticity and anti-curation. It is mindblowing as it has come up with a unique idea of keeping things real in the world where curated and filtered content is on top, using platforms like Instagram and TikTok. It takes the attention of Gen Z with its core feature – “a daily random notification to post within two minutes.”
As the young generation is already surrounded by so much, this app lets them enjoy the simplicity. This app doesn’t include the hyped features like filters, follower counts, and advertisements. Thus, the app reduces the pressure of social comparison and offers a more relaxed user experience.
Comparison with other platforms like Instagram and Snapchat
Here is a table for you that contains a quick comparison of popular applications – BeReal, Instagram, and Snapchat:
| Features | BeReal | Snapchat | |
| Main Focus | Unfiltered daily moments | Curated visual content & social image | Instant messaging with visual elements |
| Content Curation | No filters, no editing | Heavy editing, filters, and reels | Filters, AR lenses, and optional editing |
| Posting Frequency | Once per day (prompted) | Unlimited, user-driven | Unlimited, user-driven |
| Audience Interaction | Friends only, real reactions | Likes, comments, public exposure | One-on-one or group chats, streaks |
| Discoverability | No explore/feed section | Explore feed, hashtags, & algorithms | Discover tab, Snap Map |
| Monetization/Ads | No ads | Ads, influencer marketing, and shops | Ads, brand partnerships |
| Privacy/Pressure | Low pressure, private network | High social comparison & visibility | Mix of private and semi-public content |
How to get started with BeReal?
After learning what BeReal is and how it is an amazing application, let’s talk about how you can use BeReal. Here is a quick tutorial for you:
1. Create your Account
The first step is to create your BeReal account. The BeReal app is available for Android and iOS users. When you are new, you can start by downloading the application on your phone.
Once you download the app, you need to enter the required fields, such as your phone number, full name, birthday, and username. Keep hitting the “Continue” button until all the fields are filled.
Then, you will get a confirmation of your added phone number. Enter your code and continue.
2. Go ahead and find friends
After you successfully log in to the BeReal app, the next step is to check your contacts. You can add them as your friends. If your friends do not use this app, you can hit the “Don’t Allow” option. It will restrict the app from accessing your contacts.
3. Capture and Post the Picture
Now, begin the game and enjoy spending time on BeReal with other users. The app will ask you to take a picture instantly when you are done creating your account.
Click on the notification and capture the two pictures “from the front and back camera.” And, you know, the time limit is two minutes.
Pros and Cons of BeReal
Now, please take a quick look at some of the positive and negative sides of the BeReal app!
Pros
- The photos can not be edited or filtered. It is a positive point for teens to stay away from the pressure of impressing that the usual social media platforms have.
- On BeReal, you can only post once a day. Thus, you can save time and use it for quality activities.
- A great thing is that only users’ friends can comment on the post. So there will be no risk of anonymous interactions.
- The users will feel free from the stress of high follower counts or hashtags. It will help in socializing positively.
- No user can contact the other privately, and all the comments will remain public.
Cons
- There is a lack of content moderation on BeReal. So, you can see that there is no process of reviewing and managing user-generated content.
- If any user turns on the geolocation tagging, it will stay enabled for future posts. So they may share their exact location while posting. The solution is to disable it again.
- As BeReal’s nature is spontaneous. It may lead the users to accidentally share sensitive information or their surroundings.
- In the BeReal app, there is also a lack of parental controls. So, it can become challenging for parents to monitor or limit the activities of their children.
- So, you can see that BeReal is not safe for young kids, and it does attract Gen Z for many reasons. The parents need a solution for this situation. In the next section, you can see a solution that can work for you as a guardian of your child.
How do you manage kids using BeReal safely?
BeReal encourages spontaneous sharing. It can be fun for teens, but it also has some potential risks without proper boundaries. A tool like FlashGet Kids can give modern parents control to ensure their kids’ safety. The first feature of FlashGet Kids that can help parents is screen mirroring. It is useful to see exactly what a child is watching on their device in real time. So, you will get visibility into your children’s app usage, including BeReal. So the parents will stay informed about the content their kids are posting. The next safety feature is Screen Time Management. With the help of this particular feature, you can set the boundaries for your kids to use BeReal. It will help you to optimize the time that your child spends using the application so that they will not overuse it. Thus, it will ensure a healthy use of the BeReal app.
Moreover, FlashGet Kids offers the App Blocker feature. It gives you control when your child accesses BeReal. Parents will get the flexibility to introduce social media to their kids gradually. With the App Blocker feature, you can even disable them during critical times like study or family meals. Thus, you can combine visibility, time management, and app control to guide your children in using the BeReal app safely. It will help you encourage fun, spontaneity, and creativity with safety.
Conclusion
Here is the final chapter of the whole story about “What is BeReal?” You have seen that it is impressively attracting Gen Z as a new alternative to traditional social media channels. The main core of this mobile app is its unfiltered and spontaneous nature. The young generation gets excited about using it and sees how genuinely it allows them to interact with their friends.
However, the app does have its drawbacks that make it questionable to use, especially by children. So, the right solution is required while using BeReal. FlashGet Kids is a tool that makes BeReal safer. Parents can stay worry-free when their kids use BeReal.
