When that two-minute BeReal warning goes off, teens rush to snap a photo—and frequently broadcast their exact GPS coordinates to a wider audience than they realize. This guide by Screenwise walks you through the exact sequence to lock down a teen's BeReal profile: disabling precise GPS location sharing on both iOS and Android, opting out of contact syncing, and managing how mutual friends can find their account. You will learn how to check these settings directly on your child's phone in under five minutes, ensuring their social media presence remains age-appropriate and secure.
As part of our ongoing analysis of digital wellness trends and app safety, we review the exact data practices of the platforms teens use most. Our recommendations rely directly on BeReal's published privacy policies and our own hands-on testing of the app's location toggles and discovery features.
Stopping the precise location leak
At Screenwise, our digital parenting platform focuses on identifying hidden privacy vulnerabilities in popular social apps. The core mechanic of BeReal forces users to post a photo within a strict two-minute window. This structural urgency causes teens to snap photos rapidly, leaving little time to consider what background details are being shared.
The app collects exact GPS coordinates by default when a user posts. The ConductAtlas analysis of BeReal's data collection flags this geolocation tracking as a high-severity privacy issue. This tracking is problematic because it reveals exactly where a teen lives, goes to school, or spends their free time.
When minors use the app, the system defaults to sharing an approximate location if location sharing is turned on. However, older teens often have street-level coordinates active by default. You can disable this feature entirely by checking the settings directly on your child's device.
Publishing a street address, even to a friend group, creates a permanent digital footprint of a teen's physical patterns. When a teen posts at the exact same bus stop or kitchen table every day, any follower can map their routine. This makes predictable physical tracking a real concern for families.
The risk extends beyond the immediate social circle. If a teen's friend has an insecure account or shares screenshots, those locations can reach unintended audiences. Minimizing GPS sharing remains the most effective line of defense.
Toggling off location on iOS
To disable location tracking on an Apple device, follow this sequence directly after capturing a photo:
- Take the daily photo inside the app.
- Tap the location icon located directly above the "Send" button.
- Select the option to turn your location off.
- Tap "Send" to post without coordinates.
This change is immediate and applies to the current post. Parents should watch their teens perform these steps once to ensure they understand where the button is located.
Toggling off location on Android
The steps for Android devices are similar but contain slightly different options:
- Take the daily photo within the interface.
- Tap the location icon positioned directly above the "Send" button.
- Select the option to turn your location off completely.
- Tap "Send" to upload the image.
Android users can also manage permissions through the system settings. Disabling location access for the app at the operating system level prevents any accidental sharing.
According to the official BeReal Help Center article on location, location toggles remain active for future posts once enabled. If your teen turns on their location for a single post while on vacation, that preference remains active. The app will continue publishing precise coordinates on all future posts until it is manually turned off again.
Turning off phone number discovery
At Screenwise, we focus on helping parents eliminate accidental digital exposure. By default, the app uses contact syncing to connect users with people they already know. If your teen's phone number is saved in another person's device, that person can easily find your teen's profile.
This system makes it easy for acquaintances, old classmates, or complete strangers to locate your child's account. To prevent this automated search, you must adjust the privacy preferences.
The discovery toggle is hidden within the account settings. You can locate and disable this feature by following these steps:
- Open the profile page within the app.
- Enter the settings menu by tapping the top-right corner.
- Tap the "Privacy" option.
- Toggle off the setting labeled "Find me by my phone number."
According to official support documentation on controlling profile discovery, this adjustment changes how the account interacts with other devices. Once disabled, other users cannot find your teen's profile using their phone number.
When contact syncing is active, BeReal continuously monitors the device's address book. This process uploads phone numbers of family members, doctors, and local businesses to the app's database. This broad data collection is unnecessary for normal app functionality.
Disabling phone number discovery is a simple way to preserve family privacy. It stops the app from matching your teen's details with newly registered users automatically. This step forces all new connections to occur through direct, manual username entry.
Your teen will also stop receiving automated friend recommendations based on their own contact list. This helps keep their feed focused only on intentional connections. Users can still search for the profile if they know the exact username.
Because of this username search capability, the chosen username must not contain personal identifiers. Avoid using full names, birth years, or school names in the handle. This simple choice provides an extra layer of security.
Managing mutual friends and connection requests
Our digital parenting platform guidelines recommend establishing clear social boundaries before teens join any network. The app relies heavily on mutual friends to suggest new connections. This system creates a friend-of-friend network that can quickly expand beyond real-life acquaintances.
A classmate's contacts will receive suggestions to add your teen. This chain reaction often leads to friend requests from people your child has never met.
The mutual friend suggestion feature feeds into social pressure. Teens often feel compelled to accept requests from classmates' friends to appear popular. This dynamic quickly dilutes the private nature of the platform.
A larger, loosely connected friend group increases the chance of inappropriate content sharing. It also increases the risk of screenshots being taken without consent. Keeping the user base restricted to actual friends is a fundamental safety practice.
The current app build does not allow you to disable mutual friend suggestions entirely. Because of this limitation, parents should establish a strict family agreement. Teens should only accept requests from people they know in person.
Other platforms present similar connection challenges for young users. For families managing multiple apps, our platform provides step-by-step security resources. You can read the Pinterest safety playbook to manage messaging and boards, or check the Fortnite safety playbook to restrict voice chat and incoming requests.
The persistent trap of sticky settings and corporate ownership
Our research at Screenwise indicates that privacy controls require regular maintenance rather than a single adjustment. The primary risk with this app is the design of the user interface. Because the location toggle sits right next to the post button, a teen can easily reactivate tracking by mistake.
Once activated, the setting remains on for all future daily uploads. Parents cannot rely on a single setup session to guarantee long-term safety.
This risk is more notable following the app's acquisition. French gaming company Voodoo acquired the platform in 2024. Gaming companies often rely on data monetization and targeted advertising to generate revenue.
Voodoo specializes in hyper-casual gaming, a sector heavily dependent on user acquisition tracking. When a gaming giant acquires a photo-sharing app, their primary asset is user attention and demographic data. This transition shifts the platform's focus away from simple authenticity.
This shift means parents must pay closer attention to policy updates. If the company updates its data sharing terms, location tracking could expand to default integration. Regularly inspecting settings ensures your child's data is not quietly repurposed.
The official BeReal Privacy Policy states that the company reserves the right to share location data with third-party partners. This data is used for advertising and service optimization purposes. Regular setting audits help prevent your teen's daily movements from being packaged for ad brokers.
The dual-camera capture feature introduces another privacy consideration. The app takes a photo using the front and back cameras simultaneously. This capture often records sensitive background details, such as home interiors or school documents.
Establishing a routine for device checks
Through the Screenwise platform, we help families build healthy habits that replace constant monitoring with collaborative safety. Instead of staging surprise inspections, parents can establish a simple check-in routine. Sit down with your teen once a week to verify their settings together.
This collaborative approach turns device safety into a practice of digital hygiene. It reduces friction and teaches teens how to manage their own online presence.
When discussing these settings with your teen, avoid framing the conversation as a lack of trust. Instead, compare these digital checks to basic safety measures like locking the front door. This framing helps them view privacy settings as sensible protection.
Teach them how to check these toggles independently. Encouraging self-reliance prepares teens for future digital spaces where parents cannot directly intervene. Safety should eventually become a habit they maintain on their own.
Use this time to review the friends list together. Ask your teen to identify each person on their list. If they do not know someone in the physical world, remove that contact immediately.
A smaller friend list makes the platform safer and more enjoyable. The app is designed for close friends, not public audiences. Keeping the circle tight prevents unwanted exposure.
Simple steps for a balanced digital home
Locking down social media is just one step toward creating a developmentally positive media diet with Screenwise. Every app your child uses requires different safety settings, and keeping up with changes is difficult.
Instead of guessing which games, shows, and books are safe, parents can use targeted tools. By completing our free, anonymous 5-minute survey, you can instantly access recommendations that match your family's values.
Visit Screenwise to complete the survey and receive your custom digital wellness insights today.