The Downsides of BeReal: Challenges and Drawbacks of the Real-Time Social App

BeReal has risen quickly as a counterpoint to highly curated feeds. It promises authenticity by prompting users to share a spontaneous photo with both front and back cameras during a random two-minute window. While that concept attracts millions seeking a more “real” online moment, BeReal also introduces a set of downsides that can impact user experience, privacy, and mental well-being. This article explores the common drawbacks of BeReal, why they occur, and what people can do to navigate them without losing the appeal of the platform.

Real-Time Pressure and the Quest for Authenticity

One of the defining claims of BeReal is its commitment to real-time posting. The app notifies you at a random moment, and you have a limited window to capture and share a real moment from your day. In theory, this design reduces staging and highlights authentic experiences. In practice, though, it can create a different kind of pressure. Some users feel an obligation to be visibly engaged at all times, turning spontaneity into a constant performance.

The challenge is twofold. First, the two-minute window is short enough to heighten anxiety, particularly on busy days or while multitasking. Even if you’re not actively trying to curate a perfect moment, the pressure to respond promptly can distract from actual experiences, making you more conscious of how you appear online than what you are doing in real life. Second, the demand for “realness” can lead to a performative form of authenticity. People may selectively share the most relatable or humorous aspects of their day, while still omitting important context. Over time, that selective openness can feel like a subtle filter, undermining the premise BeReal is built on.

Privacy and Data Considerations

Privacy is a core concern with any social app, and BeReal is no exception. The app’s design relies on capturing images that reflect your immediate environment, and the platform’s location and time data can reveal patterns about your schedule, routines, and places you frequent. Even if users choose not to share precise location data publicly, metadata and the photos themselves may convey clues about where you were and when you were there.

Another dimension involves how BeReal stores and uses the captured media. Like many social platforms, BeReal collects data to improve the service, personalize content, and support features such as notifications. While there’s no evidence BeReal shares photos with third parties for advertising in the same way as some free ad-supported networks, users still need to read terms of service to understand retention policies and data access rights. For those who value strict control over personal data, BeReal may feel less transparent than some users expect, especially if their daily life includes sensitive moments they would rather keep private.

Limited Creative Tools and Content Saturation

BeReal’s charm lies in its minimalism: a straightforward camera prompt and a simple feed. There are few editing options, filters, or advanced features. For some users, this simplicity is a refreshing break from heavily edited content on other platforms. For others, it feels limiting. The lack of creative tools means you can’t easily express mood through color grading, captions, or composition in the ways you can on more feature-rich apps. This can lead to a sense of monotony where daily BeReal posts start to look similar, contributing to viewer fatigue or boredom over time.

Additionally, the absence of a robust discovery mechanism or algorithmic content ranking can limit opportunities to connect with new audiences or find diverse perspectives. The platform emphasizes your existing social circle rather than broader communities. While this can reduce noise and enhance privacy, it can also narrow your feed to a relatively homogeneous set of experiences and viewpoints. For some users, that trade-off is worth it; for others, it’s a downside that reduces engagement and novelty.

Impact on Mental Health: Comparison, FOMO, and Self-Image

As with any social media, BeReal can influence mental health in complex ways. The emphasis on posting “real” moments can paradoxically amplify self-critique. When you compare your day to the snapshots of friends’ lives, it’s easy to feel inadequate if your day didn’t include an exciting event, a picturesque location, or a particularly photogenic moment. Even though the platform aims to showcase authentic experiences, the curated selection of daily life still constitutes a crafted narrative. People may internalize a standard of “realness” that feels hard to meet, leading to low self-esteem or dissatisfaction with one’s own routine.

Another mental health consideration is the fear of missing out (FOMO). BeReal’s random prompts can trigger anxiety about not responding in time or about missing a window that others have already seized. This can create a sense of urgency that takes away from present-m moment enjoyment and shifts attention toward the online performance rather than lived experience. In some cases, BeReal can become a source of stress rather than a relief from the perfectionism seen on other social platforms.

Time Management, Burnout, and the Everyday Grind

BeReal’s real-time posting model also interacts with the rhythms of daily life in practical ways. People with irregular schedules, shift work, students in exam weeks, or parents caring for young children may find the two-minute posting window impractical. The platform’s design can push users to coordinate their activities around social media rhythms rather than the other way around. This disruption to natural routines can contribute to digital fatigue and burnout over time, especially for power users who try to maintain a constant streak of BeReal posts with friends and colleagues.

Moreover, the constant nudge of BeReal reminders can become intrusive. Even when you don’t intend to post, you may feel compelled to check in, creating a habit loop that bleeds into other activities. The net effect can be a subtle encroachment of social media demands into work, study, and family time.

BeReal in the Context of the Broader Social Web

When comparing BeReal to other social platforms, the downsides can be viewed in light of tradeoffs. Platforms that emphasize curation and engagement metrics offer more ways to express identity but at the cost of privacy and pressure to maintain an ideal image. BeReal, by design, trades some visibility for privacy and authenticity. However, it isn’t immune to negative externalities: social comparison remains, even in a more “real” frame; the platform’s simplicity can limit meaningful dialogue; and the focus on real-time moments may still intensify the sense of surveillance among peers who monitor each other’s day-to-day activities.

In the long run, the BeReal experience may become less about sharing daily life and more about staying connected with a close circle who appreciates honesty. That can be a net positive for some users, but it also means the app’s downsides—privacy concerns, mental-health considerations, and time pressures—are not automatically resolved by its core concept. Users should weigh the benefits of authenticity against the risks of overexposure, routine disruption, and potential social anxiety.

Practical Strategies to Mitigate BeReal Downsides

Customize notifications: Turn off or limit BeReal prompts during non-work hours or when you’re focused on important tasks to reduce constant interruptions.
Manage audience and privacy: Periodically review who can see your BeReal posts. Use available privacy settings to restrict visibility to trusted friends or specific groups if the platform allows it.
Set a personal posting rhythm: Instead of chasing every window, decide on a few predictable times to share. This can preserve spontaneity while reducing anxiety about real-time posting.
Balance real-life moments with intention: Use BeReal as a tool to capture authentic moments, but avoid letting it dictate how you experience your day. It’s okay to be offline or private when you need space.
Be mindful of metadata: Be aware that photos may carry location or time cues. Consider adjusting device settings or cropping the shot to minimize sensitive details if you’re concerned about privacy.
Acknowledge the limitations: Recognize that BeReal is one lens among many for sharing life. It’s fine to complement it with more private channels or other platforms that fit your comfort level.
Foster positive engagement: Focus on constructive interactions with friends and avoid comparing yourself to curated or edited moments on any platform, including BeReal.

Conclusion: Navigating BeReal with a Balanced Mindset

BeReal offers a fresh take on social sharing by prioritizing immediacy and authenticity, but it does not come without trade-offs. The real-time posting model can generate pressure to perform, privacy concerns persist, and the minimalist feature set may lead to creative limitations. For some users, these downsides are manageable or even negligible in light of the appeal of genuine moments. For others, the downsides of BeReal—ranging from mental health impacts to daily-life disruption—require thoughtful boundaries and mindful engagement.

Ultimately, BeReal should be viewed as one instrument in your social toolkit. If you enjoy the feel of authentic moments and can navigate the timing, privacy considerations, and potential stress, BeReal can be a meaningful way to connect with friends. If not, there are plenty of other platforms that cater to different needs without imposing the same pressures. By staying informed about the downsides of BeReal and applying practical strategies, you can keep your online experience aligned with your values and daily life.