BeReal, an app released in 2020 now with over 28 million downloads, has taken storm as it swarms the notifications of many students here at Robinson.

BeReal is a social media photo-sharing app where you share a photo once a day when receiving the notification, giving you a two-minute time frame to snap a pic and tag a location.

Students have many mixed opinions on BeReal. Some believe it contains unrealistic expectations of how people should spend their free time by not showing their authentic selves and is a toxic platform. Others believe BeReal is a fun way to snap a shot of memories and interact with friends by getting a glimpse into their daily life.

Sara Valencia (‘24) believes the app is fun but creates a sense of pressure.

“It’s fun to see what everyone is doing and actually having that part of ‘being real’” Valencia said. “But it conflicts me a little because part of that ‘being real’ is that the timer can get you on a bad moment.”

Many seem to agree with Valencia’s opinion about how pressuring it is to take the perfect photo. Danica De Jenzano (‘25) also believes there’s a negative stigma when it comes to “bad moments.”

“It sets unrealistic expectations because most of the time people are in school so obviously people know that you’re doing boring stuff,” De Jenzano said. “But on the weekends…people aren’t constantly hanging out with their friends and going out to cool places…It’s impossible for you to always be happy and [have] a good time, that’s unrealistic.”

Though De Jenzano believes BeReal may set unrealistic standards, she does have a positive opinion about the interactive part. She believes it’s fun to interact with personal friends, rather than trying to accumulate random friends.

“I think if you’re just looking at your friends, then it’s fun,” De Jenzano said.

Most students had mixed opinions about whether the platform is having a more positive or negative effect. Mae Allbritton (‘25), similar to De Jenzano, believes it’s a great app to interact with others but does set unrealistic standards.

“BeReal allows people to connect with others and it shows what everyone is up to outside of school,” Allbritton said. “[However, it] makes people compare their lives to others. A lot of people would rather post late when they’re doing something interesting, rather than actually posting on time… [It] shows how [much] people care about what others think.”

On the more positive side, Reese Pierson (‘25) believes BeReal is a constructive outlet for young teens.

“It really helps living in the moment, not just focusing on social media and our phones, looking the best, acting the best,” Pierson said. “It helps me be more open and honest.”