You’ve probably heard about this interesting new social media app called BeReal and you’d like to try it out. But before you start, you may be wondering what this new concept is all about and how you can use it. Luckily, we’re here to explain it all to you.
This article shares everything you need to know about the new app. You’ll learn how to create and set up your account, create awesome real-world emojis, and much more. Without further ado, let’s pe in.
What is BeReal?
BeReal is a social media application launched in 2020 by Alexis Berreyat. Although it originates from France, the app is mainly popular abroad, especially among American college students.
The app rose to global popularity after viral TikTok videos began referencing it. At the time of writing, BeReal is ranked #1 on the Apple App Store’s top social media charts and has been downloaded more than 20 million times.
The main feature of the app is a daily notification that informs users that it is time to share a selfie and a photo of their surroundings at a random time. Users have two minutes to share the photo and the two-image collage is automatically created from the user’s front and rear cameras.
The goal is to share random, everyday moments of everyday life and get a more authentic sharing experience than on Instagram and similar platforms that focus on aesthetics.
How to use BeReal: step by step instructions
Using BeReal is relatively simple and does not require any special effort. The process includes downloading the app, creating an account, and posting photos. You don’t even need to use an email address or set a password.
Here are detailed step-by-step instructions on how to download the app and set up your account.
- Download BeReal from App Store either Google Playdepending on your operating system.
- Open the app on your phone to install it.
- Enter your name, date of birth and phone number.
- You will receive an SMS code on the phone number you just provided. Enter that code in the BeReal app to verify your account.
- (Optional) Give the app permission to access your contacts. This is done so that you can connect with your friends who already use the app.
- (Optional) Give the app permission to access your contacts. This is done so that you can connect with your friends who already use the app.
- You agree to receive notifications from BeReal. This is important if you want to post within the two-minute limit every day.
Please note that you can skip Step 5 as you can find friends on the app in other ways.
That’s all! You have now set up your account and you will be taken to the screen where you will be asked to upload two images: one from the front camera and one from the rear camera. As you upload images (you can press the “X” button to skip this part), you will also be able to see which of your friends are available on BeReal.
One important thing to note is that if you want to see other people’s posts, you need to publish a post beforehand. If you don’t feel like sharing what your day was like, you won’t be able to see anyone’s posts from that day either. This may seem like a disadvantage to some, but it is in keeping with the app’s philosophy of creating a circle of people who share random moments of their lives with the community. If you’re not willing to share, then, according to the app’s philosophy, you shouldn’t see others’ posts.
Take (or retake) a photo
When you first set up your account using the steps in the previous section, you will be asked to tap the “Time to BeReal” notification that appears on your screen. Once you do, the app will open your selfie camera view so you can post a photo for your first BeReal post.
Taking a photo on BeReal is very easy. You just need to follow the steps below:
- Face the camera and tap the shutter (looks like a white circle) at the bottom of the screen.
- When you’re done taking the selfie, the app will automatically switch to your rear camera. Press the shutter again to take a photo.
- Tap the lightning bolt if you need extra glow.
- Choose whether you want to share the post only with your friends or with the entire BeReal community.
- Choose to share (or not share) your geolocation.
- Add a title to your post once it’s published.
Since you take both photos in a matter of seconds, you may not be happy with the result and want to take them again. You can do this by following the steps below:
- Tap the photo you want to retake.
- Press the “X” button shown in the upper right corner of the image.
- Take a new photo.
As you take a photo, you will see the two-minute timer tick down. This means you can perform a limited number of repetitions until it beeps.
Take two selfies
As you scroll through your BeReal feed, you might notice some people sharing posts with two selfies. In fact, this is possible if you are quick enough to turn your phone over immediately after taking the first photo. It may not be so easy on the first try, but if you are persistent enough, you will get there.
Please note that taking two selfies is not in keeping with the spirit of the app, which attempts to show where the user is when their selfie is taken.
Post Synchronization: What you need to know
The company keeps secret the times when publications will be requested. This means there is no way to know when you can expect a notification. However, the app will not ask you to send photos at night or outside of what are considered “waking hours.” The app uses your phone’s time zone to calculate the time, so it’s highly unlikely that you’ll receive a notification at two in the morning.
Not publishing on BeReal on time
When you receive a notification to upload a photo to BeReal, you will only have two minutes to take two photos. This can create a sense of urgency to take the photo right away. But even if you don’t react to the notification immediately, you can still post it later. Whenever you launch the app after receiving the notification, the two-minute timer will start.
The only difference is that your post will say, for example, “30 minutes late” if you were half an hour late when submitting it.
Later expiration date
All listings on BeReal have a 24-hour expiration date. This means that the post you share will only be available to your friends in their news feed for 24 hours. Of course, if someone shares your post hours after you posted it, it will remain active on their profiles for the 24-hour period after you reposted it.
BeReal also has a separate section called “Your Memories”, where you can access all your previous posts. Only you can see this part and scroll horizontally to browse your past images.
Additionally, you can save your posts to your phone’s gallery, share them via email, or forward them via another social network.
Exploring RealMoji
RealMoji is the most popular way to react to other people’s posts. It’s super easy to use:
- Open the post you want to react to.
- Press the reaction button in the lower right corner of the screen. You will see a strip of emojis.
- Tap the desired emoji. A selfie camera view will appear.
- Take a selfie and try to imitate the expression of the emoji.
A great advantage of RealMojis is that you can also use the same reaction for future posts. But whenever you want to post a new and authentic reaction, you can do so by following the steps above.
The app supports all standard emojis available on your keyboard. You can also simply share an emoji without having to create and send one using your facial expression.
Screenshot notifications
If you’re worried about someone being notified if you take a screenshot of your post, it’s worth knowing that it’s possible to view this type of information. However, doing so is not that simple. In fact, the app doesn’t immediately tell you who took a screenshot of your post. To find out, you must share your post on another social media site, by email or in any other way.
Pro tip: There is a simple solution to avoid sharing your post with others. Instead of sharing it on Instagram, you can send your post to an email address you don’t use often or send it to yourself as a file. The app only needs you to complete the action from its sharing menu and doesn’t care which option you select. The result will be the same and you will see who took screenshots of your posts either way.
Delete and report a post
If you don’t like your post, you can delete it by following the steps below:
- Open the post you want to delete.
- Tap the three dots at the bottom for more details.
- Press “Delete.”
If you post to the Discovery feed, you can always delete your photo, so it’s only visible to people on your friends list.
Likewise, if you want to report a post on BeReal, you can follow the steps below:
- Tap the dots on the tree next to the post you want to report.
- Press the “Report” button at the bottom of the list of options.
- Flag the post as inappropriate or unwanted.
It’s time to get real with BeReal
BeReal is a refreshing addition to social media platforms that doesn’t focus on posing and making your feed aesthetically perfect like Instagram. The goal is to share random daily moments with your friends or community and show life as it is.
Thanks to the detailed guide above, you can now download the app on your phone, set up your account, and start posting. Now you can also share RealMojis on other people’s posts and even take two selfies if you’re up for the challenge.
Do you prefer BeReal or Instagram? How do you think BeReal will change the way other popular social networks are used? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
