In 2020, BeReal was created in France by Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau.

Together, they constructed an app which notifies the user when it’s time to take a photo. The notification goes off randomly each day. The catch is that you have two minutes to take the picture, which is simultaneously taken from your rear view and front camera. Of course, you can always still take your photo after the time limit, however if you are late, next to your picture there will be a timestamp of how late you were. Once you post your picture, you can then view your friends’ photos and react to their BeReals by posting a picture of your reaction. BeReal markets their app as a new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily lives.

On July 25, 2022, BeReal skyrocketed. People started downloading the app left and right because of how real it makes people about their daily lives. According to BeReal, the company’s goal is to “make people feel good about themselves and their lives.” They also want BeReal to be an “alternative to addictive social networks fueling social comparison and portraying life with the goal of amassing influence”. They make this happen by giving you the option to add only your friends or go on the global discover page and meet new people. From there, you can view millions of peoples’ pictures, comment on their posts and chat.

BeReal has been a big influence in the past few months. Many apps have taken the idea of taking a picture of the rear view and front camera. Snapchat implemented this with their split screen and TikTok did with their new feature called “Now” where you take a picture or a video at a random time of the day. Additionally, Instagram is now testing out a feature called “Candid Challenge” where people will take a selfie or video at a certain time during the day.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Alex Macin

Bridgeland students partake in using BeReal by capturing themselves in the moment.

Unlike Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, BeReal is a platform where you can’t edit and add filters; it’s a raw photo of you being posted. Due to the authenticity and decreased expectations that come with the app, it increases body confidence and overall happiness. Authenticity isn’t just talking about edits and filters; it is being in the moment. With any other platform, people take time to get ready and find a place to set up to take a picture, but for BeReal, that’s not the purpose. Its purpose is to encourage users to be more natural with themselves in their daily lives. The app also has a feature where only you can go back and look at your previous post the days, months and years before and of all the times you were at your best, worst and everything in between. With that, the whole reason BeReal was created is to be your true self.

Sorry, I have to go. BeReal ⚠️warning⚠️ notification just went off.