Remember BeReal? The app that grew a large audience a couple of years ago for encouraging people to post an unfiltered snapshot of their life once a day? After going viral in 2022 and then fading into the background, it’s now making its comeback.
If you missed the wave, here’s a quick summary of what BeReal is. BeReal sends out one random notification a day asking users to snap a photo using both their front and back camera. No filters. No editing. No prep. Just you being yourself and well..real! The whole idea was to push back against overly curated Instagram posts or perfectly choreographed TikToks. For a while, it was fun, people posted their life at the most random times possible. However, like a lot of viral apps, the hype starts to die down. People stopped posting on time, or at all. Some just used it as another place to flex. By late 2023, a lot of users had either deleted the app or ignored the daily notification.
It turns out BeReal wasn’t just a passing trend. Over the past year, more people have started turning away from mainstream social media. Constant ads, pressure to perform, and algorithm fatigue have made apps like Instagram and TikTok feel exhausting. BeReal, in contrast, is low-effort and low-stakes. No likes, no filters, no endless scroll. Just one picture a day. And that’s part of what’s bringing people back. Plus, the app made some subtle changes. You can now collaborate with friends, create small albums, and even have a streak of how many days you’ve posted a BeReal.
People are craving more honestly online. Not everything needs to be aesthetic or go viral. Sometimes it’s just nice to see your friend brushing their teeth or even lying in bed. That’s the kind of casual, unfiltered connection BeReal values and that’s why it’s catching on again.
