Sure, BeReal shows the city you are currently in when you turn on location tracking. Not only that, but more detailed information about your whereabouts will also be displayed to other users. We explain what is really known about your location and how you can protect yourself from others knowing where you are.

BeReal – THE new social media app?

The app BeReal seems to be the new trend of Gen Z when it comes to social media. BeReal is currently number one among the most frequently downloaded applications from Apple. The app also overtook Instagram in terms of weekly downloads in the USA in July 2022.

Reality for 24 hours and without filters!

Authentic, social and no filters: You can't ask for more from a social media app these days. Many users like this concept in the app, which is designed for authenticity. Among other things, in contrast to Instagram , Facebook and Co., it is not about keeping users on the platform for as long as possible. There are also no advertising, likes or followers. Instead, the principle works as follows.

How does BeReal work?

Users receive a notification once a day asking them to take an authentic snapshot of themselves at that moment and share it with their friends and contacts and what is very important: only those who post something themselves are allowed to see other BeReals

A photo is taken almost simultaneously with the selfie camera and the main camera of the smartphone. Users have 2 minutes to record and post. Anyone who has completed this can then see directly what friends or acquaintances are doing at the same time or where they are.  

Is everything completely “real”?

Like many other applications, BeReal also has its downsides. You actually only have 2 minutes to publish an image, but the timer only starts as soon as you open the app. Recording and sharing a BeReal at a better time is therefore easily possible. There is no guarantee that you are posting a completely authentic scene from everyday life.

When it comes to sharing your location, the way the app works is initially different than it seems.

The location finding thing

If location detection is activated, the city in which he or she is located is displayed under the person's name. This is not unusual when the location function is switched on.

However, if you click on the text of the city displayed, you will be taken to a map view in which you can easily determine the person's exact location. Similar to the snap map on Snapchat zoom in very closely and see the building in which someone is staying.

As online marketing reports , the map feature is currently not activated for all users. But these people should also at least be shown the street they were on at the time the photo was taken.

How to deactivate location tracking

Even though most users only use BeReal to share photos with friends and not with strangers, not everyone wants to share their exact location with other people.

iPhone/IOS:

As soon as the notification appears, you take a photo as usual, but do not send it yet. Instead, you click on your location, which is displayed below the captured image, and deactivate the location input in the pop-up menu. You can then send your BeReal as normal.

Android:

After recording your BeReal, first click on “Send” and then deactivate “Location sharing” in the settings.

This is how BeReal works! (Tutorial) Everything you need to know about the app!

But advertising – what does the future hold for BeReal?

When contacted by BuzzFeed News , the platform said it is constantly redesigning the app. With regard to location determination, this may be a sign that users should be informed more clearly in the future about what location determination actually means.

Even though the usage time of many users is very low and so is the platform's income, BeReal is currently not planning to introduce advertising. according to reports from the Financial Times, the platform wants to introduce paid features or subscriptions as monetization options.

Furthermore, the platform's enormous reach is one reason why Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram are now trying to copy certain functions of the application.

However, given that the app is still quite young, it is normal that there is still a lot to learn and improve. That's why it's all the more surprising that as of October 11, 2022, it has already been downloaded over 53 million times.

Author: Nick L.

Also read:
Jugendschutz.net: BeReal – New social network with known risks,
Baden-Würtemberg State Media Center

Also read: This is what parents need to know about BeReal


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