In a social media landscape that’s often focused on filters and influencers, BeReal is a new app that is growing in popularity (over 100 million downloads) which takes a different approach. Once per day, the user is prompted to take a photo with both their regular camera and front-facing “selfie” lens simultaneously. That is shared with any of their friends on the app. For the most part, that’s all there is to it. There’s no pull to post multiple times per day - in fact, it’s simply not possible. The goal is to capture ordinary moments, whether it be working at a laptop or drinking a cup of coffee.
BeReal is mostly a self-contained experience. Users can view a news feed with their friends’ posts, but only those that they have friended within the app and nobody else besides those friends can see your posts either. Keeping this circle limited can be a great way to introduce kids to the world of social media. There is the ability to share your BeReal posts to other social platforms, but not the other way around, keeping BeReal, well… real. Bea Moise, a cognitive specialist and digital parenting coach says “Starting them small and letting their world expand makes the most sense instead of giving them access to everything at once.”
For parents, there are a few things to be aware of for children using the platform. According to the BeReal terms of use, it is for users 13 and older. Users can report inappropriate posts and can block profiles of other users from showing up under suggested friends. Also location sharing is optional, but luckily it is turned off by default. Discuss appropriate use of the location feature with your teens to keep them using the app safely.
Not sure if BeReal is right for your teens? Try it yourself!
Article originally posted on Verizon News Center: A parent's guide to BeReal