Who Started BeReal and How It Changed Social Media
BeReal has become one of the most talked-about social apps in recent years, a platform that many users describe as a refreshing break from highly curated feeds. At the heart of its story are two French tech entrepreneurs who built a simple, single-minded product with a bold promise: show the real you, without filters, edits, or vanity metrics. This article explores who started BeReal, how the idea emerged, and why the app resonated with millions around the world.
The Founders and the Early Spark
BeReal was created by two friends—Alexis Baradat and Kévin Perreau—in Paris, France. In contrast to many playgrounds of the social web that lean on aesthetics and engagement loops, the BeReal origin story centers on a desire to capture ordinary moments in an honest light. The two founders came from technology and entrepreneurship backgrounds, bringing together software development instincts and a belief that everyday life could feel more authentic if everyone was nudged to share in real time. The initial concept was deceptively simple: replace the carefully curated highlight reel with something messier, more human, and more relatable. The idea didn’t require a grand mission statement or a flashy investor deck; it required a spark of insight about how people actually live online—not the best version of themselves, but the moment they are in right now.
How BeReal Works: A Different Kind of Prompt
From its inception, BeReal positioned itself as a counterpoint to highly edited social feeds. The app delivers a daily prompt to all users at a random time, and you have a short window—often about two minutes—to snap a photo using both the front and back cameras. There’s no opportunity to overthink lighting, filters, or staging. When you post, the moment is stamped with the time, and friends see your BeReal alongside theirs. This design choice is central to BeReal’s appeal: it lowers the barrier to sharing while raising the level of honesty, inviting a glimpse into friends’ spontaneous routines.
Two cameras at once isn’t just a gimmick; it nudges you to consider what you’re doing in the present moment, not what you wish to project. The absence of filters and the real-time constraint create a sense of intimacy and immediacy that many users find missing on other platforms. The simplicity of the product—no endless edits, no perfection metrics, no algorithm-wielded highlight reels—has been a powerful lure for audiences seeking a more human connection online.
The Philosophy Behind BeReal
At its core, BeReal aims to reclaim authenticity in a digital landscape that often rewards perfection. The founders envisioned a space where ordinary life could be shared without the pressure to craft a constant, flawless image. This philosophy resonates with people who feel overwhelmed by highly stylized feeds and the relentless pursuit of social validation. BeReal does not pretend to solve every problem with social media—privacy debates, data concerns, and the evolving role of online communities remain relevant. Yet the app’s emphasis on “real moments” offers a counter-narrative to the idea that online life must be aesthetically optimized to be meaningful.
BeReal’s design choices reflect a belief that spontaneous, unpolished content can strengthen connections among users. By stripping away the layers of curation, the platform invites conversations that revolve around who you are at this very moment, rather than who you want others to think you are. The founders have often spoken about rebuilding trust in social media, not by policing truth but by encouraging users to share more candid slices of daily life. In this light, BeReal isn’t just a new feature or a trend; it’s a statement about how people might want to interact online in a more human way.
From a Quiet Launch to Global Phenomenon
BeReal’s ascent wasn’t an overnight surge; it grew steadily as more people discovered the appeal of unscripted sharing. The app gained traction in various markets as peers recommended it to friends and university communities, where the pressure to present a flawless student life felt particularly acute. In 2022 and 2023, BeReal entered a phase of rapid word-of-mouth growth, becoming a recognizable symbol of authenticity in a crowded app ecosystem. Unlike some social networks that rely on algorithmic feeds to maximize engagement, BeReal’s value proposition rests on the shared experience of daily, imperfect moments.
What helped BeReal scale was the way it created predictable, human moments around a global activity—everyone receives a daily prompt, and the entire network is invited to participate within a short window. The result is a sense of simultaneity: you see what your friends are doing in the same moment, even if you’re in different cities or countries. This shared tempo can feel surprisingly connective, turning a seemingly small feature into a daily ritual for many users. As a consequence, BeReal didn’t just attract casual downloads; it fostered a growing community that valued honesty as a social currency.
Impact on User Behavior and Social Culture
- Shifting the focus from perfection to presence: BeReal nudges people to document ordinary moments, which can reduce the intimidation factor of posting online.
- Lowering the barrier to participation: the two-minute window and minimal editing requirements make sharing quick and accessible for almost anyone.
- Encouraging parallel moments: friends often react to BeReal posts in real time, creating a shared, asynchronous dialogue that feels closer to real-life conversations.
- Influencing other platforms: BeReal’s popularity has prompted discussions about authenticity and prompted some competitors to experiment with more candid, less polished posting norms.
For many users, BeReal is less about chasing likes and more about keeping a thread of daily life visible to friends and family. That shift matters in a media landscape that often prioritizes strategy, engagement metrics, and carefully staged moments. The BeReal experience can also cultivate a healthier relationship with social media for some people, offering a reminder that life isn’t a constant highlight reel, even if you only share once a day.
Challenges, Criticism, and Real-World Considerations
No technology comes without its challenges, and BeReal is no exception. Critics point to issues such as privacy controls, data usage, and the potential pressure of a daily moment that some users may not want to share. Some also note that the random timing of prompts can be disruptive or anxiety-inducing for certain users, turning what was meant to be a lighthearted snapshot into a source of stress. Additionally, as the platform expands, questions about moderation, community guidelines, and how to handle abuse or harassment become more complex in a larger global user base.
There are practical concerns, too. Some users worry about how BeReal data is stored and who has access to it, while others wonder whether the app’s candid ethos can survive in an ever-evolving privacy and regulatory landscape. Nevertheless, the core idea that started BeReal—encouraging authentic moments shared with friends—continues to guide user expectations and the direction of future updates. The founders have signaled that they want BeReal to be a place for genuine connection, not just a fleeting trend, and that ambition keeps the platform adaptable in a shifting digital world.
What BeReal Teaches Us About Modern Online Life
The story behind BeReal offers a compact case study in how a simple concept, well executed, can disrupt a mature market. The app’s rise demonstrates a persistent appetite for authenticity, especially among younger users who grew up with highly curated feeds. It also shows that trust in digital spaces is built not only through policies and safeguards but through daily practices that reflect real life. BeReal’s founders didn’t seek to overthrow every aspect of social media; they aimed to reintroduce a basic, human dimension to online interactions. In doing so, they created a cultural moment that invites people to pause, snap a real image, and share it with a circle of friends who value the same unvarnished truth.
Looking Ahead: The Enduring Lesson
As BeReal continues to evolve, its core question remains relevant: how can social platforms balance immediacy with meaning, speed with privacy, and ambition with everyday humanity? The answer, at least for BeReal, lies in staying true to the idea that sparked its creation: live in the moment, together, with honesty. The founders’ decision to pursue a project that emphasizes real-life snapshots—rather than the pursuit of endless engagement metrics—offers a quiet counter-narrative to the endless scroll. For people who crave connection that feels less performative, BeReal remains a compelling invitation to show up as you are, one unfiltered moment at a time.
Conclusion
Who started BeReal? The answer is two French entrepreneurs who wanted to redefine what it means to share online. Alexis Baradat and Kévin Perreau built BeReal around a simple premise: authenticity over polish, immediacy over perfection. The result is a platform that has changed how many people think about daily life on social media, encouraging candid moments as a form of connection. While every technology faces questions about privacy, moderation, and sustainability, BeReal’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to foster a sense of shared reality in a noisy digital world. It is not just a new app; it is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful social moments are the ones that feel truly human.
