What is BeReal? A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Social Media Trend

Social media can feel like a constant competition for the perfect life. The BeReal app changes that narrative. With over 100 million downloads globally, it is clear that users are craving authenticity. The BeReal app sends a notification at a random time each day, challenging you to capture exactly what you are doing right in that moment. This guide explains what BeReal is, why Gen Z is obsessed with it, and what parents need to know about the safety surrounding it.

Contents:

• What is the BeReal App?
• How BeReal Works
• Why BeReal Got Popular (Especially Gen Z)
• Potential Benefits of BeReal
• Is BeReal Safe for Kids and Teens?
• Potential Risks Parents Should Know
• Does BeReal Have Parental Controls?
• How Parents Can Support Safe Use
  • Use Third-Party Apps for Additional Safety
• Comparison to Other Social Media Apps
• FAQs

What is the BeReal App?

The BeReal app launched in 2020. It markets itself as the “anti-Instagram.” Most social media platforms want you to scroll for hours. This app wants you to be real for just a moment.

BeReal is a social media app that notifies users to post one photo every day at a different time. It captures a BeReal photo using both front and back cameras to show exactly what you are doing right now. There are no filters, no follower counts, and no ads. It encourages friends to share real-life moments rather than curated highlights.

It does not care about influencer marketing or famous creators. The entire platform is built around authenticity. It strips away the features that cause anxiety on other apps. You will not find likes or editing tools here. It is just you and your friends sharing real life.

The concept is simple. However, the pressure to be interesting on demand creates anxiety for some. You cannot curate your images. You cannot hide your messy room. The app asks you to show up exactly as you are. Yet, this raw honesty is exactly why it is successful; the demand for truth has made it one of the fastest-growing social media apps in the world.

How BeReal Works

App Store

The functionality is different from any other social media apps. It runs on a strict daily cycle.

The Daily Notification

At a completely random time, everyone in your time zone receives the same daily notification. The message “Time to BeReal” pops up on your screen, which signals the start of your BeReal posting countdown.

The Two Minute Window

Once the alert goes off, a countdown begins. You have a two-minute window to open the app and take a photo. If you post within this time, your image is marked as “on time.” This proves you were ready to embrace authenticity.

Front and Back Cameras

When you tap the shutter button, the app triggers the front and back cameras simultaneously. It captures a selfie and a view of what is in front of you. This creates a complete picture of your moment. You cannot use existing photos from your camera roll. It must be live.

Late Posts and Retakes

If you miss the notification, you can still post late. However, the app will shame you slightly. It marks your post as “posted 2 hours late.” It also tracks how many times you retook the photo. Your friends can see if you tried five times to get the perfect shot.

Discovery and Friends

You can only see other posts after you share your own. This prevents “lurking.” You have to contribute to the daily cycle to participate. You can view content from your contacts or check the “Discovery” feed to see public BeReal app moments from strangers.

Why BeReal Got Popular (Especially Gen Z)

Gen Z is tired of perfection. They grew up with curated feeds and influencer marketing. They know that most social media is fake; that’s where BeReal comes in. It offers an escape from that pressure.

Embracing Authenticity

College students and teens love that the platform feels casual. You do not need to look good. You do not need a cool background. A photo of you studying in sweatpants is perfectly acceptable. This authenticity is the core appeal.

FOMO Reduction

On other platforms, you constantly see people at parties or vacations. On BeReal, everyone posts at the same time. You realize that most people are just sitting at home or working. It normalizes the boring parts of life.

No Popularity Contests

There are no follower counts. You cannot become famous here. This removes the social pressure to perform. Users feel free to be themselves because they are not chasing numbers.

Potential Benefits of BeReal

Despite some concerns, BeReal creates a refreshing environment for social media app users. It is healthier than many alternatives.

• Real Connection: It encourages you to connect with close friends. You see what they are actually doing, not just their highlights.
• Less Screen Time: The app is designed to be used once a day. It discourages endless scrolling. You check the daily notification, post, react to friends, and leave.
• Creativity: Users have to be creative with mundane moments. It turns a boring commute into a fun BeReal moment.
• Honesty: It teaches users that their real life is interesting enough. They do not need filters to be worthy of attention.

Is BeReal Safe for Kids and Teens?

Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock.com

Parents often ask if this photo-sharing app is safe. The answer is a mix of yes and no. It is generally safer than TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, but there are risks.

Age Restrictions

The app is rated for users aged 13 and up. However, there is no rigorous age verification process. A younger child can easily falsify their age to gain access.

Location Sharing

This is the biggest safety concern. When you post, the app can attach your precise location. If a child posts from school or home, they are sharing their exact coordinates. This feature can be turned off, but kids often forget to check.

The “Discovery” Feed

If a user sets their post to public, it appears in the Discovery tab. This allows other users and strangers to see their photo and location. It also exposes teens to images from adults, which could contain inappropriate content.

Potential Risks Parents Should Know

Parents need to be aware of specific dangers before allowing teens to download BeReal.

Predator Risks

Predators use social media platforms to find victims. If a teen posts publicly with their location visible, a stranger can track them. The two minute window also creates pressure to post quickly without checking surroundings. A teen might accidentally reveal sensitive information.

Inappropriate Content

The app prohibits nudity and hate speech. However, content moderation is difficult with live photos. A child scrolling through the Discovery feed might encounter inappropriate images before moderators have had the chance to remove them.

Privacy Leaks

The front and back cameras capture everything. You might not realize what is behind you. Users have accidentally posted photos of computer screens with sensitive work data or personal emails visible.

Bullying Potential

While there are no public likes, friends can react with RealMojis. These are selfies of their reaction. Kids could use these reaction images to mock or bully others.

Does BeReal Have Parental Controls?

Currently, BeReal does not have integrated parental controls.

Unlike Instagram or TikTok, which offer family pairing features, accounts cannot be linked to a child’s device. It’s not possible to remotely limit screen time or block specific users from a parent’s phone.

This lack of control means parents must take a more hands-on approach: manually checking settings on the child’s device and maintaining open conversations about who they are adding as friends.

How Parents Can Support Safe Use

You do not necessarily need to ban the app. You can make it safer with a few steps.

Turn Off Location Services

Go into the settings on your child’s phone. Disable location permission for BeReal. This ensures that even if they forget to toggle it off in the app, their GPS data is never shared.

Set to “My Friends Only”

Ensure their account is private. Instruct them never to share posts to the Discovery feed. Their BeReal photo should only be visible to people they know in real life.

Audit Their Friend List

Periodically check who follows them. BeReal is intimate. It is not for gathering followers. They should only connect with people they actually know. Remove any strangers or random users.

Discuss the “Background”

Remind them that the back camera is on. Teach them to quickly scan the room before the two minute window ends. They need to ensure no private documents or embarrassing items are visible.

Use Third-Party Apps for Additional Safety

Findmykids app

Since BeReal lacks internal controls, external tools are useful for parents who want more control. Findmykids provides the safety layer that the app is missing.

Findmykids allows you to monitor app usage. You can see exactly how much time your child spends on BeReal. If you notice they are using it late at night or during school hours, you can intervene.

More importantly, Findmykids specializes in location tracking. While BeReal might share location dangerously, Findmykids shares it safely with you. You can disable the location on BeReal to protect them from strangers, while keeping Findmykids active, so you know where they are. This strikes the perfect balance between privacy from the public and safety for the family.

With BeReal gaining popularity, it’s important for every parent to have reliable tools. The Findmykids app, created by a trusted company in child safety, allows you to search and track your child’s location and app usage in real time. Try Findmykids today to protect your child while giving them freedom online!

Comparison to Other Social Media Apps

Here is how BeReal stacks up against the other platforms your kids use.

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BeReal is a refreshing change compared to the general social media world we’re all aware of. It invites users to drop the act and be themselves. For Gen Z, it is a welcome break from the pressure of influencer marketing and perfection.

However, “authentic” does not always mean safe. The live nature of the photo sharing creates privacy risks. The lack of parental controls is a gap that parents must fill. By using tools like Findmykids and adjusting privacy settings, you can allow your teen to enjoy the app without exposing them to unnecessary danger. It is not just another social network; it is a tool for connection, as long as it is used wisely.

FAQs

What is BeReal?

BeReal is a social media app that prompts users once a day to take a spontaneous picture using both the front and back cameras, capturing and sharing authentic moments in real time with friends.

How does the two-minute window work?

Once a day, BeReal sends a notification giving users a two-minute window to take and share a picture of whatever they’re doing at that moment. This encourages spontaneity and authenticity.

Why does it use front and back cameras?

BeReal uses both cameras to show a more complete and honest view of your current moment—what you see and what you look like at the same time.

Can you post more than once a day?

You can only post one BeReal per day, but you can retake your picture within the two-minute window if you’re not satisfied with the first shot.

What happens if you post late?

If you miss the two-minute window, you can still post your BeReal later, but your friends will see that it was posted late.

Is BeReal safe for kids?

BeReal is intended for users aged 13 and up. As with any social media platform, parents should review privacy settings and discuss safe sharing practices with their children.

Does it show your location?

BeReal gives you the option to share your location with each post, but it’s not required.

Can you edit photos?

No, BeReal does not allow any photo filters or editing. The app is designed to keep posts unpolished and authentic, and there are no follower counts.

Is BeReal free?

BeReal is free to download and use, though as of 2026, the app continues its strategy of introducing monetization while maintaining its authentic features.

Does it have ads?

Currently, BeReal does not display traditional ads in the feed.

Does BeReal support private messaging or groups?

Yes, BeReal offers RealGroups and RealChat features, allowing users to create private group chats and message friends directly within the app.

How can you react to posts on BeReal?

Instead of traditional likes, BeReal uses RealMojis. You can create your own reaction emoji by taking a selfie, making your response more personal and interactive.

Does BeReal allow filters or editing?

No, BeReal does not allow any photo filters or editing, and there are no follower counts. This helps keep the experience authentic and less focused on popularity.

Does BeReal support video?

While BeReal posts are pictures, the app can create a compilation video of your past moments or memories, allowing you to look back on your shared experiences.

How does BeReal compare to other platforms?

With BeReal’s popularity, other platforms have launched similar features, such as Instagram’s ‘Dual Camera’ and TikTok’s ‘TikTok Now’, but BeReal remains focused on authenticity and spontaneity.

What makes BeReal’s format unique?

BeReal’s format allows users to share unpolished photos, which many find refreshing compared to the curated content on other social media platforms.

How does BeReal address social media addiction?

BeReal was designed to compete with Instagram while de-emphasizing social media addiction and overuse by limiting posting to once per day and removing features like follower counts.

What is the future of BeReal?

As of 2026, BeReal continues to introduce monetization strategies while maintaining its core focus on authentic, spontaneous sharing.

Cover image: bereal.com