Blog Post #4- BeReal Presentation-Kalessy Keyes

   Due to the in-depth discussion we have done in class on BeReal, I found it fitting to write my last blog post about the presentation on it. Their video summed up how "authentic" BeReal claims to be. Interestingly, although BeReal is claimed to be so different from other social media platforms, their login platforms are very similar to Snapchat or TikTok (Athanasatos et al., 2022). One substantial difference between BeReal and other social media platforms is that BeReal does not have an algorithm (Athanasatos et al., 2022). Therefore, BeReal does not hand-pick content to feed its users and lets them see their "Friends for Real" in the order they post, which avoids the addictive tendencies of other social media platforms (Athanasatos et al., 2022). In addition, there are no in-app purchases, which is a refreshing approach where a social media platform is not trying to profit off its users, appealing to the Generation Z market, as stated by the presenters (Athanasatos et al., 2022). The group also mentioned that although BeReal is not like other social media platforms, users can share their BeReal photos on other platforms, allowing BeReal to gain increased popularity, which was a great business move (Athanasatos et al., 2022). Lastly, I enjoyed learning all about BeReals data mining by Colby (Athanasatos et al., 2022).

  When comparing this BeReal presentation to the course readings I used for my midterm paper, it is evident that BeReal appears more intimate than platforms such as Facebook. I think that this quote by Sophie Haigney, "I see laptop screens, offices and work-from-home setups, Slacks and Zooms and coffee mugs" (Haigney, 2022), really sums up BeReal. As we have also discussed in class 150, Dunbar's number is the maximum number of people we can keep active relationships with (Standage, 2013). BeReal is typically used with only close friends making it an intimate space.

Athanasatos, J., Catalli, M., Carpino, A. & Harrison, C. (2022, Nov. 30). BeReal [Group Presentation]. Final Group Project, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Haigney, S. (2022, August 24). BeReal Captures Our Nostalgia for a Time When Social Media Was Boring. Retrieved from The New York Times Magazine: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/magazine/bereal-app.html

Standage, T. (2013). Chapter 1: The Ancient Foundations of Social Media: Why Humans are Wired for Sharing. In T. Standage, Writing on the Wall: Social Media, the Frist 2,000 Years (pp. 6-20). New York City, New York: Bloomsbury.