BeReal: the parent’s guide
One photo a day, but still social media. Here’s what to configure.
What BeReal is
BeReal sends one notification per day; users have 2 minutes to snap a front + back camera photo, simultaneously. The pitch: “unfiltered authenticity.” The reality: still social media, with location, friends-of-friends discovery, and the usual group dynamics.
Minimum age
BeReal requires 13+ (16+ in the EU). Accounts under the minimum violate terms.
Settings that matter
- Profile › Settings › Who can see my BeReals — My Friends only (not “Discovery”).
- Turn off “Find me by phone number” and “Find me by username.”
- Disable location on BeReal posts (Settings › Location sharing — off).
- Review friends list quarterly.
- Two-step verification on if offered.
Hidden risks
- Location by default. BeReal embeds location in the “BeReal of the day” unless turned off.
- Screenshots are tracked — the sender is notified. This backfires when kids share a screenshot with someone who then sends it elsewhere.
- Late post pressure — if the 2-minute window closes, the post is marked “late.” Kids feel compelled to stop whatever they’re doing mid-activity (including class, dinner, bedtime).
- RealMoji reactions — friends react with their own faces. Kids post their photo faces that get captured in each other’s libraries forever.
The honest take
BeReal is less algorithmically manipulative than TikTok but it’s still a feed, still a social competition, and still has location baked in. Good discipline around it is same as other social apps: private friends only, location off, quarterly audit.
Common questions
Does BeReal share my child’s location?
Yes, by default. BeReal embeds location in the daily post unless you turn it off under Settings › Location sharing. This is the setting most parents miss, because the app’s “unfiltered authenticity” framing does not suggest location is involved.
BeReal notifies people about screenshots — doesn’t that make it safer?
It creates a false sense of security. The sender is told a screenshot was taken, but that does not stop the image travelling: a friend screenshots, then sends it on somewhere BeReal cannot see. Notification is not prevention.
Which BeReal settings should I change first?
Set “Who can see my BeReals” to My Friends rather than Discovery, turn off “Find me by phone number” and “Find me by username”, disable location sharing, and enable two-step verification if offered.
Why does my child stop everything when BeReal pings?
The window is two minutes, and posting after it closes marks the post “late”. That design deliberately creates urgency, which is why it interrupts class, dinner and bedtime. It is worth agreeing in advance that some moments are simply not postable.
Is BeReal safer than TikTok?
It is less algorithmically manipulative, but it is still a feed, still a social competition, and still has location built in. The same discipline applies: friends only, location off, and a quarterly audit of the friends list.