BeReal
Low riskRated Low · How we rate
A low-risk, authenticity-focused app — the least concerning social platform your teen is probably using.
| Minimum age | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Strangers can contact | No |
| Location sharing | hidden |
| Disappearing messages | No |
| Parental visibility | Limited |
BeReal sends a daily notification at a random time and gives users 2 minutes to take a front-and-back camera photo showing exactly what they're doing at that moment. The concept is designed to counteract the performative nature of Instagram — no filters, no planning, just a snapshot of real life. The friend network is typically small and mutual — both people must follow each other to see each other's posts. DMs are available but not a primary feature. BeReal has significantly lower risk than most social platforms. The main concerns are location metadata embedded in photos and the friend discovery feature.
Location settings
- iPhone → Settings → BeReal → Location → set to Never or Ask Next Time
- This prevents location data from being embedded in photos
Friend discovery
- Open BeReal → Friends tab
- Review the "People You May Know" section — decline any you don't recognize
- Your child's friends list should be people they know in real life
What to check periodically
- Friends list (should be real-life friends only)
- Memories tab (stores all previous BeReals)
- That Location is still set to Never in iOS settings
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Updated June 2026
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