BeReal

What is BeReal?

BeReal is a photo-sharing app that sends one random notification per day — you have 2 minutes to take a photo with both the front and back camera simultaneously. The idea is to show “real”, unfiltered life. The app also has BTS (bonus BeReals), RealMojis (reaction selfies), group chats and a public Discovery feed.

Age rating: 13.

Why do kids like it?

• Anti-Instagram. No filters, no perfection — it feels more authentic than other apps.
• Fun daily ritual. One notification per day makes it a low-effort activity with friends.
• Low pressure. Compared to curated feeds, there is no expectation of perfect photos.
• The FOMO element. The limited time window creates a feeling that you have to participate.
• Seeing friends’ real lives. Children like to see what their friends are actually doing — not just the polished version.

What are the real risks?

• Location exposure. Posts can include location data, and the dual-camera format captures the surroundings — rooms, other people, and location clues are always visible.
• The Discovery feed. The public feed makes content visible to strangers.
• Pressure to post from anywhere. Some children take photos at school, which can violate school policies.
• Late posts show you were late. This can create social pressure among friends.
• Reactions share your child’s face. Every RealMoji reaction is a selfie photo — your child shares their face each time they react to a post.
• Screenshots. The sender is notified of a screenshot, but it does not prevent it — the content is already captured.

Settings to check

1. Set the account to “Friends only” so content does not appear on the Discovery feed.
2. Disable location on posts: Settings → Privacy → turn off location sharing.
3. Check the friends list: Review who your child has as friends — are they accepting every request?
4. Review RealMoji permissions — check who can see and react with RealMojis.

How to talk about it

“Who are your friends on BeReal? Is your account visible to everyone, or just friends?”

“The app gives you 2 minutes to post — what’s that like when you’re at school or somewhere you can’t really take a photo?”

Last reviewed: April 2026