BeReal app is a social media launched in 2020. This year this social platform has seen unbelievable growth in its user base. It went from barely one million users in January to over 20 million in October.
The most significant number of users of the BeReal app are from Gen Z. They seem to be obsessed with the app and they account for up to 80% of the users of the platform, but what is so thrilling about this social media?
How does BeReal work?
BeReal is quite different compared to other social media platforms. In contrast with what happens on other social media, the app actually only allows users to post once per day. It all starts when users receive a notification. At that point, they only have two minutes to post a picture of themselves.
At what time does BeReal send the notification?
That actually changes every day and it means that there is no time to get prepared. Also, pictures are taken using both the front and the back camera of the smartphone. There is no room for camera filters or to find a nice background scenery. It is really hard to “BeFake” on this app.
You are allowed to take as many attempts as you want of your picture within the two minutes. Unfortunately, if you post even a minute later than that, the picture will be labeled as a late post.
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How does BeReal make money?
For long-term success, a business needs to be sustainable and generate revenue. At the moment, BeReal does not generate revenue from subscriptions, as it is free. There are also no ads on the app. Most likely this app is looking to expand its user base and then add paid features later, but the company needs to be careful.
In recent years, another social network – Clubhouse – has seen growth comparable to BeReal. The voice-based social media app saw a peak in downloads between the end of 2020 and the first two months of 2021. After that, Clubhouse users dropped by 70%. Despite over $110M raised by the company.
Let’s see if BeReal will be able to maintain its user base in a more consistent way. At the moment, the amount of time users spend on the app does not seem a priority for BeReal management. Let’s see if that will change in the future.
Is the BeReal app safe?
There is something about BeReal that makes it much better than other social networks like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat. Lately, a lot of questions have been raised about social media and how they negatively affect people’s mental health. The “perfect life” depicted by “influencers” on these social media platforms could lead other users to anxiety or even depression fearing they will never achieve that.
From this perspective, BeReal is much safer. Pictures are only meant to be real with no room for preparation or perfection. If not the late post label will appear on the app.
Has BeReal gone off today? – the anxiety issue of the app
People might get tired of this app in the same way as it happened to Clubhouse, so a way BeReal keeps users engaged is to keep changing the time when the app goes off. From that moment the two minutes countdown to take a picture starts. Could this lead to massive FOMO or anxiety issues for BeReal users?
For some users when that notification goes off, it does trigger something. For some not being able to post on time could lead to negative feelings. The same could happen if they are unable to take a good picture.
It will be up to the app management to find the right balance and make sure that BeReal stays safe and keeps up with its original mission. The world does not need another social network where anxiety is the most dominant feeling among its user base.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com –In the Featured Photo: The BeReal App. Photo credit: Muzhgan Jafarova – Impakter.
