Part 3/8:
Gen Z embraced BeReal’s authenticity wholeheartedly. Unlike other platforms that perpetuated FOMO through glossy, embellished highlight reels, BeReal encouraged users to capture mundane, everyday moments. The novelty of random notifications contributed to its charm; users felt a communal connection in showing their “real” selves.
As users flocked to the app and its daily prompts became ritualistic, competitors like Instagram attempted to replicate the formula. Analysts estimated BeReal had around 15 million daily active users by late 2022, but this was just the beginning of a troubling trend.