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 platforms.
• 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 sharing. Posts can include location by default, revealing where your child is.
• 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.
• Front and back camera simultaneously. The background is always visible — the room, other people, location clues.
• Late posts show you were late. This can create social pressure among friends.
• RealMojis require selfies. Reactions are selfie photos shared with others.
• Screenshots. The sender is notified of a screenshot, but it does not prevent it — the content is already captured.

Settings to check

1. Private account: Set the account to “Friends only” so content does not appear on the Discovery feed.
2. Disable location on posts: Go to settings and turn off location sharing for posts.
3. Check the friends list: Review who your child has as friends — are they accepting every request?
4. Screenshots: Explain that the sender receives a notification, but the content can still be saved and shared.
5. 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?”

“Have you ever felt pressured to take a photo in an awkward situation? What do you think about that?”

Last reviewed: March 2026