App's Fate Questioned: Consulting Social Media Professionals and the COO of BeReal for Insights on Its Future

BeReal, the social media app that has gained popularity for its unique approach to sharing real-life moments, is making waves in the digital world. Founded in January 2020, the app was created as a counter to the toxicity, doom scrolling, and FOMO that often accompany other social media platforms.

The app distinguishes itself by prompting users to share a single photo once a day in real time, showcasing exactly what they are doing at that moment. This encourages authenticity and spontaneity rather than curated or edited content. Users can choose which friends to follow, and at a specific point of the day, everyone is asked to share what they’re doing at that moment through a photo of their front view and a selfie.

However, the app has faced criticism from some industry experts. Shauna Madden, Head of Social and Paid Media at ilk Agency, is sceptical about the effectiveness of the RealPeople feature, as she feels that false authenticity is obvious and may have been BeReal's problem in the past. Similarly, Chris Budd, a digital marketing strategist, expresses concern that the RealPeople feature risks diluting the platform’s celebrated authenticity and close-knit community vibe.

Despite these concerns, BeReal has managed to grow to over 23 million daily active users globally, according to the app's COO, Salzman. However, some third-party reports suggest otherwise. The success of BeReal was due in part to timing, as frustration with Instagram was increasing. The app was seen as a hark back to the way of social media and internet usage of old, craving reality, authenticity, and reliability, as expressed by Madden.

BeReal sets itself apart from other photo-focused social media platforms like Instagram because users only share one photo a day, and it's all private accounts with friend requests only. The app is also different in that users' photos are not chosen out of a dozen possibilities and poses like on Instagram.

To further distinguish itself, BeReal is introducing a new feature called RealPeople, featuring celebrities and brands. Some of the celebrities already using the RealPeople feature include Joe Jonas, Dixie D'Amelio, and Nina Dobrev. However, the success of this feature remains to be seen, as some experts are hesitant about its impact on the app's authenticity and community vibe.

Despite being the newest and most 'groundbreaking' social media app, BeReal has slipped off everyone's radars quickly. The exact reason for its quick loss of popularity is not specified in the article. The BeReal team does not release specific figures or data regarding the app's user growth. The COO of BeReal, Salzman, claims that BeReal is intended to be as boring or exciting as real life moments, and is meant to reduce the pressure of looking the best and acquiring followers.

In conclusion, BeReal is a social media app that aims to provide a more authentic and spontaneous experience for its users. While it has gained popularity, it has also faced criticism and a quick loss of popularity. The success of the RealPeople feature will be crucial in determining the app's future.