BeReal
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MINIMUM AGE: 13+
WHAT IS IT? BeReal is a social media app where users share a single photo each day to show what they are doing in that moment. At a random time every day, the app sends a notification prompting users to take a photo within two minutes, using both the front and back cameras at the same time. This captures a selfie and the user’s surroundings simultaneously, encouraging more authentic and unedited posts. Users can share their BeReal with friends, react with personalised emojis called RealMojis, comment on posts, and view previous posts in a memories archive. The app aims to focus on real-life moments rather than highly edited or curated content. WHAT WE SAY: Treat with caution. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Although BeReal focuses on sharing everyday moments with friends, users can choose to post publicly through Discovery, which allows their photo to be seen by people around the world. This means young users could receive inappropriate comments, reactions, or unwanted attention from strangers. 💬 Comments and Interactions BeReal does not include traditional private messaging, but users can comment on posts and react with RealMojis (selfie-style emoji reactions). If a post is shared publicly, these interactions may come from people the user does not know. 📱 Cyberbullying As with any social platform, there is a risk of negative or hurtful comments from peers. Although BeReal’s Community Standards prohibit bullying, abuse, and harassment, some harmful comments may still appear before they are reported or removed. 🚨 Unwanted Contact or Grooming Risks If a user posts publicly through Discovery, strangers may comment or react to start conversations. While BeReal does not have open search functions for browsing users, public posts can still attract attention from people outside a child’s friend group. 📍 Location Sharing When posting a BeReal, the app may display the user’s location on a map if location sharing is enabled. If this setting is not turned off, posts could reveal where a young person is when they take the photo, such as their home, school, or local area. 📸 Oversharing Personal Information Because BeReal encourages users to share what they are doing in real time, photos may unintentionally reveal personal details, such as their bedroom, school uniform, local landmarks, or family members. 🕒 Real-Time Posting Pressure Users are prompted once per day to post a photo within two minutes of receiving a notification. This may encourage young people to post quickly without thinking about what is visible in the background or where they are. 📂 Memories and Screenshots Although BeReal posts appear for a limited time in the daily feed, they are stored in a personal Memories archive unless the user disables this feature. Friends can also screenshot posts, which means images may be saved or shared outside the app. 📢 Age and Account Accuracy BeReal has a minimum age requirement of 13, but like many apps, there is limited age verification, meaning younger children may still create accounts by entering a false birth date. 🛡️ Community Standards and Reporting BeReal has Community Standards that prohibit bullying, harassment, illegal activity, exploitation, hate speech, non-consensual nudity, and harmful content. Users can report posts or accounts directly within the app, and the platform may remove content or suspend accounts that violate these rules. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲 Understand the Platform – Familiarise yourself with how BeReal works. The app sends a daily notification at a random time, prompting users to take a photo within two minutes using both the front and back cameras. Understanding this feature can help you guide your child about what they share and who can see it. 👨👧 Parental Awareness – Take an interest in how your child uses BeReal. Talk with them about who they have added as friends, whether they use Discovery (public posts), and how to manage privacy and location settings. 📢 Underage Accounts – BeReal has a minimum age of 13, but like many apps there is limited age verification. This means younger children may still create accounts by entering an incorrect date of birth. 📍 Check Location Settings – BeReal can display a user’s location on a map when they post. Encourage your child to turn location sharing off before posting so their home, school, or daily routines are not revealed. 📸 Think Before Posting – Because BeReal captures a real-time photo of surroundings, images may unintentionally show personal details such as bedrooms, school uniforms, family members, or identifiable landmarks. 🧠 Trust Their Instincts – Remind your child that if comments, reactions, or interactions make them uncomfortable, they should avoid responding, block or report the user, and talk to a trusted adult. 🖥️ Healthy Device Use – Encourage balanced use of social media and consider keeping devices in shared family spaces, which can help support safer online behaviour. 🚨 Recognise Warning Signs – Be aware of sudden changes in behaviour, such as increased secrecy around devices, distress after using social media, or deleting apps unexpectedly. 💬 Keep Communication Open – Have regular conversations about online safety, including cyberbullying, unwanted attention from strangers, pressure to share personal information, and how to report concerns within the app. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you see suspected child sexual abuse content online, report it to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which helps remove illegal images from the internet. If you’re worried about online sexual exploitation or abuse, you can make a report to Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) - a UK law enforcement team dedicated to protecting children and young people online. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Factsheets for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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