Serious now: beReal

The latest trend app, BeReal, promises us our «daily dose of real life». Presenting itself as an «anti-social-media app», it encourages users to be authentic. The concept is simple: every day, users receive a push notification prompting them to take and post a selfie within two minutes.

But does this seemingly revolutionary idea truly offer authenticity – or does it risk deepening our smartphone addiction?

For my critical exploration of BeReal, I created a video essay. I asked friends to share their personal opinions and motivations on camera, sparking discussion within my social circle. Some even deleted the app as a result. The project highlights just how powerful an app’s influence can be on daily life.

Is BeReal really a tool against superficial social media, or are we simply entering a new cycle of phone dependency?