Be Real, a new social network allowing people to communicate through 20 seconds stories and photos, is now available on both App Store and Google Play. Rapidly growing, the app is conquering audiences worldwide. The immediate success of the platform raises one question, will Be Real replace popular apps such as Instagram and Snapchat? And how does the lifecycle of an app look like? 

What is Be Real?

Be Real is a new social platform, recently made available on App Store and Google Play. Since the date of its release, the number of users increased exponentially, boosting its popularity. On the app, users share their daily activities through photos or 20 seconds video clips. You can share content with friends or send photos to people you don’t know. Hence, while strengthening existing friendships, Be Real also allows you to make new ones. 

As you might have noticed, this is not a new format. Indeed, many are the platforms with similar functions. Sharing photos and videos is something we all can do on Instagram, or even better on Snapchat. Then why did this app become so popular in such a short time? 

Every Platform has a lifecycle

Just like a human being, every platform has a lifecycle. The childhood of a social network sees the latter moving its first steps into the world wide web, slowly acquiring visibility and users. The very moment it reaches the peak of its popularity could be considered as its wild teenage years. Finally, as any human being, it grows, it matures, and eventually, it dies, immediately replaced by a new emerging platform.  

Think about Facebook. Back in the 10s, Zuckerberg’s app revolutionized the media landscape, becoming a platform where people communicated, posted content, and shared their private life. However, recently it has been somehow dismissed due to the rise of Instagram and Snapchat. Yet, even though the former still holds onto the top of the rank, a few threats have recently arisen. Indeed, the pandemic has significantly impacted people’s needs and habits, shifting their interest in sharing and posting toward a wish for interaction and communication. And social platforms have changed accordingly. Nearly all of us have heard about Clubhouse. Released at the end of January, the app was on everybody’s phone a week later. The same thing is happening with Be Real. But why, in this competition among apps, is popularity so patchy?

The popularity race

Every human being is also a social being, and we don’t want to be left out, to be looked down on.

We live in a technology-dominated world. Changes occur every day and we, as people, adapt not to be left behind by the latest updates. Think, for instance, of when Clubhouse was first released and everybody downloaded it even though they didn’t like the app. Every human being is also a social being, and we don’t want to be left out, to be looked down on. Think about a situation where everybody you know goes somewhere and you don’t. You start wondering what they do there, you feel excluded and marginalized. The same thing applies to technology – as soon as an innovation is released, it becomes dominant.  

Another reason why apps such as Be Real rapidly gain popularity is that they’re different from mainstream platforms. Indeed, they may have similar features to Instagram and Snapchat, but the way people approach other users is different.

People are social beings, and they thus seek and need others’ approval to feel satisfied and happy with their life. This is the underlying assumption social media platforms are built upon.

Aiming to grab others’ attention, users use Be Real as a tool for self-promotion, Sleek Magazine says. People are social beings, and they thus seek and need others’ approval to feel satisfied and happy with their life. This is the underlying assumption social media platforms are built upon. However, while Be Real is no different concerning this aspect, the overall vibe is much more relaxed. The stories you share can be no longer than twenty seconds, leaving no room for perfectionism. And the same thing goes with the photos you post. Sure, it’s still self-promotion, but users don’t stress for hours chasing the perfect selfie.  

Why should you download Be Real?

In my opinion, you should download the app and give it a try. It has a friendly environment, and you get the chance to meet people from all around the world. In just twenty seconds, you can summarize, record, and share your day, or simply take a spontaneous selfie. Finally, although it still has a long way to go to catch up with – and eventually outpace – Instagram, its popularity and success bode very well.

Cover: Pexel

Edited by: Cecilia Begal