BeReal, the photo-sharing app known for promoting authenticity, has introduced a new feed called RealPeople, featuring top athletes, artists, activists, and other public figures. The company aims to “eliminate society’s notion that public figures live in an alternate, filtered universe,” and enhance the connected human experience by showcasing real, unfiltered glimpses into the daily lives of celebrities.
In a blog post, BeReal stated that RealPeople is an “ever-changing collection of who is inspiring and intriguing us from around the world.” The company hopes that by encouraging influencers, celebrities, and athletes to share authentic posts, it can help users discover relatable aspects of their favorite public figures.
BeReal emphasizes that RealPeople will not be about “influencing, amassing likes or comments, or promoting brands.” The platform does not accept advertising money or work with brands and is entirely privately funded. Users can expect not to see “perfect photoshopped pictures, product recommendations, or ads disguised as posts.”
RealPeople will be accessible in the app’s Discovery tab, allowing users to react to posts with a ???? emoji. Initially, users will only see their own emoji reactions. The feature is set to be trialed in the UK before expanding globally.
While BeReal has previously claimed that using the app “won’t make you famous,” the introduction of the RealPeople feed suggests a shift in direction for the company. As BeReal seeks to attract more celebrities and public figures to the platform, it hopes to create a space where fame and authenticity can coexist. The company believes that humanizing celebrities and offering users a more genuine glimpse into their lives, it can have a positive impact on society and help to break down the barriers that often separate public figures from their fans.
In the coming months, it will be interesting to see how the RealPeople feature is received by users and whether it succeeds in attracting high-profile celebrities and influencers to the platform. If successful, BeReal’s approach to promoting authenticity and humanizing public figures could pave the way for a more honest and relatable social media landscape.
