The New Trend for Gen Z: Sharing Real Life with the App 'BeReal' | Release #58

'BeReal' is a social networking app that emerged in France in 2020 and is popular primarily among the younger generation known as Gen Z. The app's main feature is its ability to share an unfiltered snapshot of daily life, designed to share an unedited version of oneself.

Once you download the app, you receive a notification at a random time once a day. Opening the notification starts a two-minute timer, during which you can capture yourself and your surroundings using both the front and back cameras. By posting within two minutes, you can view your friends' posts.

An innovative feature that seemed obvious yet was missing is the inclusion of selfies in the captured photos. This feature allows for sharing both the unfiltered self seen through the back camera and the current scenery captured by the front camera simultaneously.

This dedication to a simple feature promotes communication and sharing among users, forming new communities. By incorporating one's face and expressions into photos, it deepens connections with other users and brings a sense of comforting reality to the often unrealistic nature of social media.

By reading a magazine that explores the meaning of selfies, you can better appreciate the brilliance of BeReal's simple dedication.

For Gen Z, who value authenticity over a perfect image, 'BeReal' is a new stage for self-expression. This app relieves the pressure of maintaining a 'perfect image' and encourages being natural.

While other platforms focus on sharing visually appealing images and videos with edited content, 'BeReal' finds value in sharing unedited, real-time moments of daily life without using any filters. This approach aims to capture and share everyday moments, establishing a new trend in social media.

Behind the explosive growth of 'BeReal' just a few years after its release lies the issue of fatigue from the 'perfect image' curated by social media. Gen Z, who spend more time on social media than other generations, are more sensitive and understanding of the information presented, valuing authenticity. They are skeptical of content that is edited or manipulated. 'BeReal' addresses these needs by emphasizing reality and spontaneity, capturing the hearts of young people.

Gen Z seeks real and organic moments. 'BeReal' indicates a new direction for social media, finding value in sharing raw moments rather than manufactured realities. It offers a new platform for self-expression to users, including Gen Z. This simple yet profound approach holds the potential to significantly change the future shape of social media. The current trend of 'BeReal' is a response to the new demands placed on social media.

cover image by yNAK