BeReal. Up and Coming Social Platform To Keep Your Eye On

In the past four months, BeReal., a social media app used by many Gen Z users, saw a 315% YoY increase in downloads.  This newer social media platform encourages “authentic” photo-sharing.  And, just as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat paved the way for today’s generation of app-based social sharing, staying on top of the trends allows you to keep up with the Gen Z audience if they’re your target demographic.

So, let’s dive in, what’s all the hype with BeReal.

BeReal. is a 5-star rated app that aims to help people combat materialism, social media insecurity, and false narratives that they might encounter on Instagram or other social media platforms. To do this, users are required to publish a photo within a time limit and with minimal editing tools each day.

At a random time during the day, BeReal. will send you a notification saying you have 2 minutes to take a photo. You'll be prompted to enable your front and back cameras and to provide your username. Once you've completed these steps, you'll be able to start the timer and take the photo.

When you press the capture button, the camera will take a picture of what your back camera is facing and a picture of you (or whatever your front camera is facing). You can then add a caption and a location, but you cannot remove either of the images captured or add filters.

After your photo is published, either with the "Only Friends" or "Discovery" privacy settings, it will be seen in your friend's feed or on a public Discovery feed, depending on the privacy setting.  You can then choose to adjust the caption or post the photo. However, if you publish later than two minutes after you take the photo, your photo will be labeled as “published late”, and your caption will be edited for added user transparency.

What’s the brand potential for marketers

With the popularity of BeReal. you may be wondering if you’re able to include it in your advertising? Currently, there are minimal advertising opportunities available on the platform as they are focused on authentic, consumer-facing marketing so it is not wide-open for advertisers at this time.  However, this could change in the future – especially if the platform gains traction and more brands and businesses start using it.

So, while it may not be part of your media mix today, it’s always good to stay on top of new platforms your audience is exploring to have a better idea of when it may be available to reach your core demographic.

Source: https://blog.apptopia.com/social-app-of-the-moment-bereal-grows-users-315-ytd