Is BeReal Safe for Kids? A Parent’s Guide

BeReal is a photo-sharing social media app that prompts users to share unfiltered photos once per day. takes a unique approach by prompting users to post at designated times. The goal is to break through the noise of heavily curated feeds. It’s an interesting idea, but is BeReal safe for kids? 

While it may seem more authentic than TikTok or Instagram, BeReal has no parental controls, limited privacy features, and high exposure to explicit material. BeReal is not considered safe for kids under 16. 

This article explains how BeReal works, what risks parents need to be aware of, and how to help kids use the app safely.  

What is BeReal? 

BeReal is a photo-sharing social media app that prioritizes authenticity.

Here’s how it works: Once a day, at a random time, users get an alert that it’s time to post. They have a two-minute window to snap a photo of what they’re doing. 

The app takes a simultaneous photo with both the front and back cameras and then creates a collage. Users can retake a photo as many times as they want within the two-minute window, but the app notifies their friends how many times they retook it. 

After time’s up, users who post can see their friends’ posts and react with comments and emojis. If a user makes a post within the time limit, they’re allowed to post up to five more times that day. 

Users can still post if they miss the window, but their post will be marked as “late.”

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What are the risks of kids using BeReal? 

Parents need to be aware of the following dangers: 

• No parental controls.
• Minimal privacy settings and moderation.
• High likelihood of exposure to inappropriate material. In fact, the community standards only ban nudity if it’s nonconsensual. A 2023 study found that 59% of BeReal users have been exposed to sexual content — more than any other platform. 
• The app encourages overuse. BeReal has made recent changes to encourage users to stay on the app, such as streaks.
• Social comparison. Even if most users follow the spirit of authenticity, the real-time posting could still lead young users to unhealthy comparisons.  
• Younger teens may not have good judgment about what’s appropriate to post. If the call to post comes through when your child is half-dressed, for example, will the desire to not break their streak cause them to snap a photo anyway? 
• Ability to delete messages. Users can delete messages in DMs, making it harder for parents to monitor. (BrightCanary can still monitor what your child types in BeReal, even if they delete it.) 

Does BeReal have parental controls? 

BeReal has no parental controls and very few privacy options for users. 

How old do you have to be to use BeReal?

Users must be at least 12 to open a BeReal account, but it’s self-reported and therefore easy to bypass. 

How can I help my child use BeReal safely? 

Here are some steps you can take today to help your child stay safe on BeReal. 

• Turn off friends of friends. In the privacy settings, toggle off the option to connect with friends of friends to limit your child’s exposure to people they know. 
• Show them how to block and hide users. Teach your child how to block users who are being inappropriate. They can also hide users if they don’t want to fully block them. 
• Turn off “find me by my phone number.” To further control who can discover your child on the app, you can turn off the ability for users to find them using their phone number.  
• Teach them why it’s important not to share their location on posts. With each post, users are given the option to share their location. Explain to your child why it’s best to never share this information.  
• Monitor their use. The BrightCanary app helps you monitor your child’s activity online, including on BeReal. You get real-time alerts if they encounter anything concerning, so you can step in and support them. 

Is BeReal safer than other social media apps? 

Here’s how BeReal stacks up against other popular social media apps. 

Feature	Instagram	BeReal	Snapchat
Age verification	Easy to bypass	Easy to bypass	Easy to bypass
Parental controls	Yes, through Instagram Teen Accounts	No	Private teen accounts, messaging and content restrictions
Direct messaging	Yes	Yes, friends only	Yes, with disappearing messages
Comments on posts	Yes	Yes	No (interaction is through Snaps, chats, and Stories)
Content moderation	Yes, but explicit content often slips through	Minimal, mostly relies on users’ reports	Limited; explicit content present in Snap Stories and Spotlight
Explicit material	Prohibited but common	Common. Nudity allowed as long as it’s consensual	Explicit content present in public Stories and Spotlight
Reporting tools	Yes	Yes	Yes
Private accounts	Yes	Yes	Yes

FAQ

Does BeReal have parental controls?

No. BeReal has no built-in parental controls. Parents can only adjust privacy settings manually, such as limiting who can connect or turning off location sharing.

What is the age limit for BeReal?

BeReal requires users to be at least 12 years old, but the age limit is self-reported and easy to bypass. Experts recommend waiting until at least age 16.

Is BeReal safer than Instagram or Snapchat?

Not necessarily. While BeReal promotes authenticity, it has fewer safety features and less content moderation than Instagram or Snapchat. Teens are at high risk of seeing explicit content.

How can I keep my child safe on BeReal?

Turn off “friends of friends,” disable location sharing, teach your child how to block or report users, and use a parental monitoring app like BrightCanary for added protection.

Final word: Is BeReal safe for kids? 

BeReal is a photo-sharing social media app with a fun and unique concept. However, due to the inherent risks of the app and a lack of parental controls, it’s not safe for users under 16. 

Parents should help their child use BeReal safely by limiting who can discover them and using a parental monitoring app like BrightCanary.

BrightCanary helps parents monitor what their children type and search on the apps they use the most, including BeReal. Download today to get started.