From posting pictures on Facebook, to maintaining streaks on Snapchat, to posing stories on Instagram, it can be easily presumed that we live in a digitized world. Every event, party, success story, achievement, moments of joy are shared on these social media apps. Now, these apps come with integrated filters and editing tools that urge you to put up the best version of yourself, or you may think so. Consequently, people only tend to like and get attracted to the good things, the pretty things. Let’s BeReal- No one wants to see failures, the reality of the world. BeReal changes this whole concept.
You see a post of a woman so beautiful that you forget that it’s the filters that are giving her the perfectly smooth skin with the perfectly-shaped nose. Whereas in reality, she most definitely has a few pimples or freckles, marks, eye bags or uneven skin. We do not get to see her real self, we see what she wants the world to perceive- a woman with no flaws, which, to be honest, it not very authentic and the sad reality is that she is probably much more beautiful without the filters. We see her perfect, flawless self, and we unnecessarily question ourselves- Why can’t I be like her?
What is BeReal?
BeReal is Gen-Zs latest social media hype. ‘What’s the catch’ you ask? Well, it has no filters or any editing tools to oomph up your photos. The idea is, as you may have guessed, to BE REAL, to be your true, authentic self.
Created by a former employee of GoPro, Alexis Barreyat and his companion Kevin Perraeu, it is a French social media app. Though it was put in motion in 2020, it started getting attention in early 2022. As of now, it has more than 10 million active daily users.
It claims to be a platform that provides “A new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life.”
How do you use it?
Using the app is very easy. As it does not have any filters or image editing tools, all one has to do is take a picture at the right time.
You have to start by creating your account and then adding your friends. The app will immediately give you suggestions on who to add as it will give you friend recommendations from your contact list who have a BeReal account. Whether to add them or not is a choice you will have to make. You can also add friends who may not be in your contact list by simply searching for their BeReal username and then adding them.
Anytime during the day, you will get a notification from the app to post a picture. You need to post a picture within two minutes and share it with your friends. This time limit prompts you to share a picture of whatever you might be doing at the moment. For instance, you might be reading a book, cooking or even doing your college assignments. Just take a pick and share it with your friends. One thing to be noted is that you do not compulsorily have to post a picture every time you get a notification, you can just post one the next time you get the chance.
Another great thing about this app is that when you take a picture, your front and rear camera work simultaneously, i.e., you’ll be taking a picture of yourself and whatever that in front of you, your surroundings or environment at the same time, giving your friends a peak of what is really happening in your life at that given moment.
When you share your picture to your friends, you can add a caption if you like. There are no hashtags or trending keywords as this app does not work on such algorithms.
You can download the app on your Android or Apple phone from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store respectively. Moreover, it is completely free of cost!
Why BeReal?
Because it urges you to be real. It encourages you to put yourself out there, your true, original self. It is not just any social media app. In today’s world, where people are so hyper-focused on only showing their ‘good’ side, BeReal tells you that your real self is your good side. One does not have to be flawless and immaculate to be accepted or liked by others, one just has to BeReal.
