<\/p>\nIf that sounds familiar, it’s because the functionality sounds nearly identical , a selfie app marketed as a more candid and authentic alternative to mainstream social media platforms. The app, which originally launched in 2019, also prompts users to take a photo using their phone’s front and rear-facing cameras at a random time each day. The daily prompts also expire after two minutes, after which users can view all the photos shared by their friends that day.<\/p>\n
It’s not yet clear if or when Instagram intends to launch the feature. An Instagram spokesperson described the feature as an “internal prototype” that’s “not testing externally.” But the fact that the company is testing the functionality suggests it’s at least considering replicating the app inside of its own service.<\/p>\n
BeReal has a big following among Gen. Z, and has been rising in popularity over the last several months. BeReal is currently sitting in the top position in Apple’s App Store, ahead of both Instagram (No. 8) and Facebook (No. 18). It’s been among the ten free apps for much of this summer. <\/p>\n
Mark Zuckerberg has said Meta’s future relies on appealing to , who are increasingly spending their time on platforms. And while TikTok is currently its top competitor, the company is known to its rivals and has often copied features from other services. Instagram also recently added a new “Dual” setting to its in-app camera that mimics the shooting style popularized by BeReal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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