Original Article: Digital Camera World
BeReal has taken social media by storm, and platforms like TikTok and Instagram are racing to provide their users with an authentic experience. According to Apptopia, BeReal has been downloaded more than any other platform this quarter, including TikTok.
We’ve tried our BeReal ourselves, and looked at why it’s been topping the charts. But will BeReal actually last, and will it truly change the social media landscape? Unlike traditional social media, BeReal doesn’t allow filters or retouching. More creatives and artists are moving away from Instagram due to its shift to TikTok-like features and prioritization of short-form video content.
Not everyone is sold on BeReal however, as everything from cybersecurity concerns to doubts about its longevity threaten its popularity.
We asked the co-founder/CEO of Open Influence Eric Dahan for his take, as he’s someone who has years of decades of experience integrating social media marketing campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands. Eric sheds light on why audiences are being driven away from unrealistic, overproduced content and why BeReal is having a moment in the spotlight. But are the concerns over BeReal valid, and is it actually here to stay as an image-sharing app?
Open Influence Co-Founder/CEO Eric Dahan, Forbes 30 Under 30, has decades of experience in custom-integrated social media marketing for Fortune 500 advertisers, including award-winning influencer marketing campaigns for Universal, YouTube, Disney, L’Oréal, and Netflix.
Why are we seeing so many downloads of BeReal?
I think Gen Z in particular really craves that. The core aspect and value of BeReal is its authenticity. It serves as a contrast to social media as a whole, where it’s not about maximizing time spent or allowing the user to be really curious about the content. But you know, the time you’re allotted before there are those sharing you’re allowed to do is pretty minimal and in your post to be authentic. I think it’s seen as a refreshing take on a gap in the market, in the social landscape.
What are the concerns with using BeReal?
Are there any disadvantages to BeReal?
Because you get a notification and have to post right away what you’re doing, and where you are, the content is not always going to be you putting your best foot forward or creating what you want to create and share. That authenticity is also a limiting factor for people that really want to invest more time into the app.
You just spoke about authenticity. Are there any other apps or trends going around that are highlighting authenticity aside from real?
TikTok, and the format of video content format, forces you to not really post aspirational content or go through 100 pictures that you took and pick the best one. It’s not an overly produced video like you could do on YouTube, right? Or an edited video. It really forces you to share what’s real in the moment. A lot of the content is people talking from like the living room or their bedroom or just out and about on the street. So it’s just a lot rawer in real life.
