Why has the photo-sharing app BeReal suddenly got so popular? – Digital Camera World
BeReal, the French photo sharing platform that's been labelled by some as the "Anti-Instagram" app, has recently hit the number one spot in the social networking section of the App Store.
BeReal was launched at the beginning of 2020, as a simple, stripped-back approach to photo sharing and life sharing. The concept of the app is simple: every day at a different time it will prompt you all to take a photo simultaneously and you've got two minutes to do so.
If you've never heard of BeReal before, don't worry. I hadn't either, until a friend of mine stopped halfway through a cycle the other day, whipped out her phone, and took a frenzied snap on the app before the two minute timer was up. I was a bit perplexed, but then later on, curious enough to download the app myself.
Our writer Hannah was hooked on BeReal when she tried it earlier this year (way more on-trend than me), and felt that the new photo-sharing app demands authenticity (opens in new tab). What I'm interested in now is why the platform has suddenly gone viral in the last few weeks. Is it genuinely an alternative to Instagram? It is a backlash to Instagram in its current state? Is BeReal here to stay?
Social networks will always rise and fall in popularity throughout their life cycle, as generations change, technology improves and new updates please or annoy users. Photo sharing platforms like sites like Flickr or 500px don't feel as popular as they once did and despite the best camera phones (opens in new tab) making it easier than ever to share photos, we know that Instagram is also having a pretty to put it lightly tough time with its image.
I've already written about why Instagram is no longer for photographers (opens in new tab), and Make Instagram Instagram again (opens in new tab) is the latest movement to circle the platform and complain about the changes. Many users are unhappy that Instagram has become more about reels, videos and suggested posts from strangers rather than interacting with your friends and the people you do know and choose to follow.
Interestingly, against all this negative press, BeReal has emerged. BeReal, with the tag line "Your Friends for Real." is hoping to change the way that you interact with friends and get a glimpse into their lives.
BeReal markets itself as a photo sharing app, even though it sits in the Social Networking section of the Apple Store. In fact, the official Apple Store description (opens in new tab) reads "the simplest photo sharing app to share once a day your real life in photo with friends."
Unlike Instagram, which allows seemingly endless uploads, BeReal prompts you to post a photo every day just once. The idea is that you capture an image wherever you are, and then post it in time to discover what your friends are up to.
Instagram has long come under fire with critics, who say that it represents a highlights reel of life, rather than a representation of reality. Posted photos are often planned and executed carefully, or can be posted from years ago.
By springing a photo opportunity upon its users, BeReal is seemingly encouraging a more authentic way to capture life and share it with others.
When you're prompted to take a photo, the BeReal app takes both a selfie and a photo from the front camera simultaneously, so you get two images.
BeReal is still a social networking app, and therefore you'll find many predictable social features on the app too. There are daily challenges, and you can comment and react to your friends BeReal profile (that's if you have any friends on the platform, as I don't currently know anyone on it).
At the time of writing this article, BeReal is at the number one spot among free Social Networking apps on the App Store, ahead of WhatsApp and Facebook.
But let's not forget that it's been out since the beginning of 2020. Developed by Alexis Barreyat, who has previously worked at GoPro (opens in new tab),the app looks like it could have gained popularity with Gen Z users earlier this year, a spread that was perhaps helped by a paid ambassador program on college campuses.
According to data shared by Fast Company (opens in new tab), BeReal has now been downloaded over 20 million times, and is worth an estimated $600 million (opens in new tab).
The makers of BeReal seem to have a comedic side, and they've post "warnings" at the bottom of their Apple Store listing for those using the app:
/! WARNING /!
BeReal won't make you waste time. BeReal is life, Real life, and this life is without filters. BeReal will challenge your creativity. BeReal is your chance to show your friends who you really are, for once. BeReal can be addictive. BeReal might frustrate you. BeReal won't make you famous. If you want to become an influencer you can stay on TikTok and Instagram.
Like all fledgling social networking apps, there are still plenty of glitches that need ironing out. The BeReal interface is smart, but currently very basic, and the makers are welcoming feedback and ideas from users.
Despite this, it's going to be exciting to see if the BeReal app continues to fly, or like some emerging social trends, flop before it really gets going. We've reached out to BeReal (opens in new tab) for a comment and will update this post if we hear more.
Go here to see the original:
Why has the photo-sharing app BeReal suddenly got so popular? - Digital Camera World
- Heineken Turns Anti-Social - Media, That Is 04/29/2025 - MediaPost - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Heineken taps Joe Jonas to ditch social media and pour into real connections - Marketing-Interactive - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Europeans are leaving the social network Mask X en masse - Mezha.Media - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Elon Musks X social network lost 10% of its users from Europe in six months. Reasons - - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Heineken campaign imagines an influencer crisis in a world without social media followers - Campaign Brief - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Joe Jonas and Dude With Sign Team Up to Celebrate Life Off Social Media - That Eric Alper - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Joe Jonas and Heineken bring in a social media apocalypse in new ad - afaqs! - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Divisive forces spreading hate on social media must be identified, dealt with firmly: Mehbooba Mufti - asianewsnetwork.net - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Socontra: social network for AI agent-to-agent interaction set to automate online shopping - Eagle-Tribune - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Survey: More than four in 10 teens say social media harms their sleep - The Star - May 2nd, 2025 [May 2nd, 2025]
- Mark Zuckerberg Says Social Media Is Over - The New Yorker - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are 'grateful' that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are too young for social media - Business Insider - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Morgan Stanley believed Google would rival Facebook if the search giant could beat Mark Zuckerberg to scooping up WhatsApp - Fortune - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Australian leaders vow to stand firm on social media age limits as election nears - Reuters - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- My Company Competed Against Facebook. Here's What Happened | Opinion - Newsweek - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Layboard Launches Innovative Social Network for Job Searching and Career Growth - Reuters - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Abrego Garcia family flees to safe house after Trump DHS posts home address on social media - The Real News Network - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Opinion: Morning routines are a myth and serve as social media gimmicks - lsureveille.com - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Gen Zs Underground Social Network Just Went National And Its Blowing Up - Forbes - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Fans React to Jameson Williams Not Following Lions on Social Media - Sports Illustrated - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- OpenAI may be creating a new social media platform with AI-generated images - Tech Edition - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- B3 partner with Reach Labs to launch user acquisition platform and GameChain - VentureBeat - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- OpenAIs Reportedly Exploring Its Own AI-Based Social Network - Social Media Today - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI launches its Social Network: the new frontier of the data war - The Cryptonomist - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI is reportedly developing its own X-like social media platform - TechCrunch - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- What Meta stands to lose if the FTC wins - Quartz - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Instagram and Facebook are hardly social media apps anymore. Here's the proof. - Business Insider - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- FTC Antitrust Case Against Meta Heads to Trial This Week - Social Media Today - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI might be building its own social network, and we really hope they don't - TechRadar - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI Takes On Elon Musk By Creating Its Own Social Network! - Cointribune - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI is building its own social network to rival Elon Musk's X - Crypto Briefing - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI reportedly creating its own social network to take on X - Tom's Guide - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Behind the landmark trial that could reshape Metas future with Instagram - Los Angeles Times - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI is quietly working on a social network similar to Twitter, powered by ChatGPT - TechSpot - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI Reportedly Developing Social Media Platform Amid Ongoing Feud Between Musk, Altman - BW Businessworld - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI braced to challenge Elon Musks X with new social network - The Times - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Meta faces antitrust claims at trial over Instagram and WhatsApp ownership - The Guardian - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Like Musk, but with ChatGPT: OpenAI is working on its own social network similar to X - ITC.ua - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI may be turning ChatGPT into a social media platform - Android Authority - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Creative ChatGPT They are planning their own social network and it will be quite unique! LSA Magazine - Letem svtem Applem - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- OpenAI is working on X-like social media network, the Verge reports - MarketScreener - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Will Meta be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp in FTC trial? - Bizcommunity - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Body talk on social networking sites and appearance anxiety among college students: the mediating role of self-objectification and moderating role of... - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- I Tried Seven39, the Social Network That's Only Open Three Hours a Day - Lifehacker - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Mapping ISKPs Strength: Social Network Analysis of Tech-Driven Jihad - Global Network on Extremism and Technology - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- ION and HyperGPT Unite to Power AI-Driven Web3 Social Networks - CoinTrust - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- College Student Shares Why She Deleted All Socials and What Life Is Like Without It - The Flagler College Gargoyle - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- CRD is shutting down its X account, saying platform 'rife with misinformation' - Times Colonist - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Social Network: Is the mental health of teenagers in danger? - evidencenetwork.ca - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Leo, Daily Horoscope Today, April 10, 2025: Business owners will find success through social networking - Times of India - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Daily time spent on social networking by internet users - the-star.co.ke - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Young people and the pressure to be perfect like on social media - baohaiduong.vn - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- CSC urged to recall memo on social media use of gov't personnel - GMA Network - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Woman charged for hit-and-run death allegedly posted about victim on social media after the crash - KBTX News 3 - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- LinkedIn reveals best places to work - 9Now - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Chamber showcase fills Union Station with real-life social networking for small biz owners - Startland News - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Beyond Bluesky: These are the apps building social experiences on the AT Protocol - TechCrunch - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Modeling the amplification of epidemic spread by individuals exposed to misinformation on social media - Nature - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Gen Z is flocking to the one social media platform millennials didn't ruin - Business Insider - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Whistlr Network: The Real-Time, Unfiltered Social Media, That - openPR.com - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- EU may make an example of X by issuing $1 billion fine to Musks social network - Ars Technica - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Mark Zuckerberg Apparently Bought Jesse Eisenberg's "The Social Network" T-Shirt, And I'm A Little Weirded Out - BuzzFeed - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Is X Going To Pay The Price? Europe Is Preparing Historic Sanctions Against Elon Musk. - Cointribune - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Truth Social owner Trump Media becomes first company listed on NYSE Texas handing early win to exchange - New York Post - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Mark Zuckerberg wears iconic t-shirt from The Social Network, reveals he got it in auction - Mint - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Immigration officials look to collect social media handles from those seeking benefits. Is this new? - The Tribune-Democrat - April 5th, 2025 [April 5th, 2025]
- Cryptocurrency and Extremism: How Social Network Analysis is Used to Track Extremist Cryptocurrency Donations - GNET - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- New bill would require warning labels on social media platforms - KSTP - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Japan Grapples with Risks of Social Media in Pursuing Options for Protecting Children Online - Nippon.com - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Gabe Newell had his eyes on a social network in the '90s that 'was not in a games context at all'meaning Valve-owned social media could've been a very... - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Tired of traditional social media? Here are 4 reasons why Substack is my go-to social media app - ZDNet - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Skip the post-trip laundry stress with the new features of Wingle, a free in-flight networking app for travellers - indulgexpress - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Social media's impact: Driving business strategies from marketing to ROI - ZAWYA - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- What Is Meta AI? Everything You Should Know About the Social Network Giant's AI Tools - CNET - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- The art and science of going viral in 2025 - Computerworld - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Agility in Marketing Teams: An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Entry Decision Into a Trendy Social Network | Newswise - Newswise - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram: Inside a Global Online Hate Network - ProPublica - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Why TikTok Should Be OnChain - CoinDesk - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- China: Officials aim to restrict social media and screen time, youth left in divide - The Hawk - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Florida teen killed after being lured on social media to meet man, police say - USA TODAY - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]