With enough apps to kill your phone’s storage, it’s only natural that you may well be hesitant to download yet another one. However, Be Real is a new social media app that you might want to consider downloading for its empowering and liberating twist. It's currently ranking number 1 app in the Social Networking category in several countries, including UK but how has this one app managed to single-handlingly compete and be on a mission to topple the Facebooks, TikToks, and Twitters of the world?
The picture-based app is garnering attention for breaking down social media's obsession with perfectionism and rewriting the rules on posting content that's not authentic. The format is similar to Snapchat, but there's no editing, no do-overs (if you do, the app will warn other users, flagging exactly how many re-takes it took). The app prompts you at random times of the day to take a quick snap using both your front and back camera simultaneously, posting within a two-minute window of the notification to allow friends to see what you're doing in real-time. If you post outside of the allocated two minutes (therefore allowing time for editing or a quick tidy up of your surroundings), users will be notified that the post isn't a true representation of your life at that moment.
Described as “a new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life”, the app forgoes any social media trickery and makes it impossible to showcase a highlight reel of your life in favour of real, relatable moments that let the world know who you actually are (if you choose to share, of course).
The best part is, you'll start to realise you're not the only one who doesn't look and feel amazing all the time and that everyone has parts of their day that are far from glitz and glam. It may sound like an obvious concept to point out but it’s very easy to get lost in the fallacy of social media when more often than not the users' lives you envy are probably just as complicated or as mundane as your own. The only difference is they may be a little bit better at editing their pictures or remembering to capture cool content.
Other features in the app include allowing your followers to interact with your photo of the day, not through a like button but with photoreactions. You can see who's screenshotted and you can compile a memory file of all the photos you uploaded for any given timeline. Sounds like the most chaotic photo album of dreams. Plus, much like Snapchat or Instagram, you can set your account to a ‘discovery mode’ which means your Be Real is set to public and anyone with the app can see your snapshot of the day.
Users on Twitter are starting to get into it with one saying: “The @BeReal_App is fucking fire. I joined 16 days ago. I have deepened friendships. I have made new friends. This is so great”
While another says: “‘be real’ is my new fave app”
With a few users choosing to ditch other apps to tap into the hype of this up and coming social media space of the moment:
The Be Real App might have come at a good time, specially now that social media users and celebrities have been complain about the Instagram's algorythm and how many other social media apps who once had their own specialities and USPs are now all turning into TikTok. Recently Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian have shared a post enticing people to sign a petition to bring Instagram back. You know, the picture app you used to see all your friends doing fun things (the good ol' times) as opposed to memes and overly comercialised advertorials.
It’s obviously undeniable the power that social media has had to help people from all walks of life monetise their talents and their image but with that also comes the baggage of having to manoeuvre through the exceptionally high — and sometimes unrealistic — standards and expectations of the perfect life. This app aims to humanise the whole social media experience and to be honest, that sounds pretty freaking cool and refreshing to us.
The Be Real app is available to download on android and iPhones free of charge.
Will you join the hype?
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
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