Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

BeReal is the social media app equivalent of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' It's trying to solve real problems with Instagram and TikTok culture—the performativity, the endless scrolling, the follower obsession—and it does succeed at being less toxic than those platforms.

But here's the thing: just because it's better than the alternatives doesn't make it good. The complete absence of parental controls, the location-sharing risks, the public Discovery mode, and the pressure to post quickly (literally while biking, according to their own warning) create real safety concerns. Multiple parent safety organizations flag these issues.

For older high schoolers who can manage privacy settings themselves and won't do anything stupid when the notification goes off? Fine. It's probably the least harmful social photo app out there. For middle schoolers? The lack of guardrails is a problem. The app is refreshingly honest in its warnings ('can be addictive,' 'might frustrate you'), but that doesn't fix the safety gaps.

If your teen is going to be on social media anyway, BeReal is a better choice than most. But that's a low bar, and this still requires active parent involvement to set boundaries the app itself won't enforce.

Age Fit

Best for high schoolers (15+) who can handle the privacy and safety considerations independently. The lack of parental controls makes this risky for middle schoolers, despite the 12+ rating. Not appropriate for younger kids at all—this is firmly teen territory.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

BeReal's core concept—sharing unfiltered, spontaneous moments once daily—pushes back against curated, perfectionist social media culture. The two-minute time limit and inability to browse endless feeds reduces comparison and performance anxiety. However, the pressure to post 'on time' and the social dynamics of RealMojis and comments can still create FOMO and anxiety. The app explicitly states it 'won't make you famous' and doesn't care about follower counts, which is genuinely healthier messaging than most social platforms.

Imaginative

58

BeReal's dual-camera feature is clever and the daily challenges add occasional variety, but the app is fundamentally passive consumption and reactive posting. There's minimal creative expression beyond deciding when/where to be when the notification hits. The RealMoji feature (creating emoji from your own face) shows some creativity, but overall this is a documentation app, not a creation platform. It doesn't invite building, storytelling, or deep exploration.

Safe

48

Multiple parent safety resources flag significant concerns: no parental controls, minimal privacy settings (location tagging must be manually disabled and isn't passcode-protected), public Discovery mode that shares your photo with strangers nearby, and the app's own warning that it 'may cause accidents, especially if you are riding bikes.' Common Sense Media notes it's 'slightly buggy' and Bark emphasizes the lack of protective features. While there are no ads and limited private messaging (reducing some risks), the location-sharing, peer pressure to post quickly, and exposure to unknown users via Discovery mode create real safety issues for younger teens.

Enriching

54

BeReal offers a mild lesson in authenticity and resisting performative social media culture, which has value. The time-limited posting can teach spontaneity and being present. The Memories feature creates a genuine photo diary. However, the app provides minimal skill-building, no educational content, and limited meaningful social connection beyond surface-level photo sharing. It's more about breaking bad social media habits than building good ones. The app's own warnings ('can be addictive,' 'might frustrate you') acknowledge its limitations.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Actively fights performative, curated social media culture by forcing spontaneous, unedited posts
No ads, no influencer culture, no follower counts—explicitly rejects the fame game
Time-limited posting (once daily, 2-minute window) prevents endless scrolling and comparison spirals
Creates an authentic photo diary of daily life that could be genuinely meaningful to look back on
Dual-camera feature shows both what you're seeing and your reaction—clever and harder to fake

⚠

What to Watch For

Zero parental controls and minimal privacy settings—location sharing must be manually disabled and isn't protected
Public Discovery mode lets strangers see your teen's photos if they're nearby, which is a genuine safety concern
The 2-minute posting pressure can cause risky behavior (the app literally warns it 'may cause accidents, especially if you are riding bikes')
Still creates FOMO and social anxiety around posting 'on time' and getting RealMoji reactions from friends
No way to monitor what your teen is posting or who's interacting with them

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about posting whatever you're doing right when the notification hits? Does that feel freeing or stressful?"
"Have you ever felt pressure to be doing something 'interesting' when BeReal goes off, or do you just post whatever?"
"How does it feel different from Instagram or Snapchat? Do you think it's actually more 'real'?"
"Have you turned off location sharing? Let's check that together—I want to make sure strangers can't see where you are."
"Do you use the Discovery feature to see other people's posts, or just stick to friends?"

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