BeReal has carved out a niche in the crowded social media landscape by prioritizing authenticity over polish. If you’re new to the app or simply curious about how it works, this BeReal FAQ-style guide walks you through the essentials. You’ll find clear explanations of the core features, privacy considerations, and practical tips to help you get the most out of your BeReal experience without turning it into a science project.

What is BeReal?

BeReal is a social media app that encourages spontaneous, unfiltered moments. Rather than curating a highly edited feed, BeReal prompts users to share a quick glimpse of their day. The emphasis is on authenticity, not aesthetics. Each day you receive a notification at an unpredictable time, signaling that it’s time to snap a photo with both the front and rear cameras and post it to your network. The result is a snapshot of your daily life that your friends can see in near real time, without the pressure to stage or retouch every shot.

How does posting work?

Understanding the posting flow helps many users feel comfortable using BeReal. Here’s a straightforward overview:

• You receive a daily BeReal notification at a random time.
• You have a limited window (usually about two minutes) to capture your moment.
• The app uses both your device’s front and back cameras to create a single photo pair, unless you choose to hide one camera view in your settings.
• You can add a caption to your post before sharing with your friends.
• The post appears in the feeds of people you’ve connected with as friends on BeReal.
• Friends can react or comment, and you can explore other users’ posts in the Discover or Realm sections if you choose.

What are Realms and how do they work?

Realms are a feature designed to broaden the moment beyond your immediate friend circle. When a Realm is active, BeReal invites users to check out a specific time, place, or theme—such as a city, a school, or a public event—and see posts from people who are participating in that Realm within that window. Realms can feel like a fast-moving, context-driven stream where you can compare moments with others in a shared location or scenario. To participate, you simply join the Realm of interest and view or contribute content during the Realm window. Realms add variety to your BeReal experience and can help you discover new perspectives beyond your usual circle.

Privacy and safety: what you should know

Privacy is a common concern for new BeReal users. The app is designed with default privacy controls that keep most everyday moments within a friend network, but there are important options you should understand:

• Who can see your posts: By default, your BeReal moments are visible to your BeReal friends. You choose who to add as friends, and your posts are not publicly visible to everyone unless you enable a public sharing option in settings.
• Location data: Location tagging is optional. If you leave location on, BeReal may show a general area or city with your post. If you’re concerned about privacy, turn off location sharing in your settings and be mindful of what you share in captions that could reveal your location.
• Profile visibility: You can keep a relatively private profile by limiting who can find you and who can see your posts. Review friend lists and block or remove accounts if needed.
• Safety tips: Avoid sharing personal details like home addresses, schedules, or every daily routine. Remember that even authentic moments can reveal sensitive information when combined with captions or other context.
• Public features: If you opt into public discovery or Realms that are open to broader audiences, your posts may be seen beyond your direct friends. Use caution when enabling these options.

Notifications, devices, and account control

Managing notifications and account settings helps reduce noise while keeping BeReal engaging. Consider the following:

• Notifications: BeReal sends a daily prompt, but you can adjust notification preferences to suit your schedule. You can also mute or customize reminders if the standard timing is intrusive.
• Devices: BeReal is primarily a mobile app. Posts are made from a smartphone, and there isn’t a full-featured desktop posting workflow. You may access some features on the web, but the core posting experience happens in the mobile app.
• Managing friends: You control who you add as friends. If someone bothers you or you no longer want to see their content, you can remove them or block the account.
• Deleting or deactivating your account: If you decide BeReal isn’t for you, the app provides steps to deactivate or delete your account. This action typically removes your profile and data from BeReal, though some content may remain in friends’ feeds for a grace period depending on policy and app version.

Discover feed vs. friends feed: what to expect

BeReal offers two main ways to explore content:

• Friends feed: This is the core stream where your own BeReal posts and your friends’ posts appear in roughly chronological order based on activity. The focus is on your personal network and daily moments.
• Discover or public feed: If you enable or encounter the Discover area, you can browse posts from users outside your friend circle. This exposure can widen your BeReal experience, but it also raises privacy considerations, so enable it thoughtfully.

Practical tips for a smoother BeReal experience

Whether you’re new or returning to BeReal, these practical tips can help you enjoy the app without overthinking every moment:

• Embrace authenticity: The goal is to capture a genuine snapshot of your day. If you miss a prompt, it’s okay—your friends will understand, and you can post when you’re ready.
• Protect your privacy: Regularly review your privacy settings, especially location sharing and who can view or discover your posts.
• Be mindful of captions: Short captions are common, but anything you post can carry meaning beyond the photo. Consider whether you’re comfortable with the accompanying text being visible to others.
• Manage expectations: Realism isn’t synonymous with invisibility of your daily routine. BeReal is about sharing your day without heavy editing, not about replacing real life with a polished version online.
• Use Realms thoughtfully: Realms can be a fun way to explore moments around a city or event. If you’re concerned about privacy, stay within friend circles and keep Realm participation selective.
• Dealing with notifications: If you find the prompts disruptive, adjust settings or schedule a time when you’re less likely to post instantly.

Common questions about BeReal

Here are concise answers to questions users often ask in BeReal FAQ-style discussions:

• Can I post from a photo taken later? BeReal is designed around the moment, but some versions allow you to post a memory if you miss the window. The result remains less timely than the original prompt would have been.
• Is BeReal anonymous? No. BeReal relies on a user identity tied to your account. Posts are shared with your friends or the Discover audience depending on privacy settings.
• What happens to my posts after I delete the app? If you delete BeReal, your data is typically removed from the app’s servers according to their data policy. However, copies may remain where other users saved or screenshotted content, so think before posting personal moments.
• Can I control how long a BeReal remains visible? Posts stay visible to the audience you’ve chosen (friends, selected circles, or public feeds) unless you delete the post or adjust settings for future posts.

Wrapping up: making BeReal work for you

BeReal can be a refreshing alternative to highly curated feeds. The key is to lean into its core philosophy—sharing authentic, imperfect moments with people you care about—while maintaining mindful privacy practices. Start with a small circle of trusted friends, review your location and discovery settings, and give yourself permission to participate at your own pace. Over time, BeReal becomes less about chasing frequency and more about capturing a slice of daily life that feels genuine and human.