A No Scrolling Social Platform Promoting Connection? I'm In!
I joined a group of boomers infiltrating (maybe taking over?) the latest social app.
We all know how the original users of Facebook have abandoned the platform, and the more mature generation has taken over. In my defense, I have a minimal presence on Facebook. (It's a great place to promote my newsletter.)
Now I’ve been introduced to BeReal.
BeReal is a social app that alerts you once daily to capture a photo to share with your friend network. The app activates both the front and rear-facing cameras. The recipients see what you are looking at with an inset of your picture.
My brother, who’s more of a boomer than I am, introduced me to the app.
He’s using it to stay connected with his college-age son. When our children leave home, we never lose the desire to check on them. BeReal is an opportunity to do that. It takes two minutes. You don’t even get to ask if they’re eating regular meals.
Why am I so taken with this app? My nephew is not my son.
I live ten hours away from my brother and sister. We talk at least once a month. A daily connection makes me feel closer. On the flip side, I live two hours from my nephew. Connecting with him lets him know I’m here if he needs me.
The app doesn’t encourage scrolling. It just encourages a brief connection every day.
It’s nice of the younger generation to create social platforms to meet the needs of more mature users.
Are you using BeReal? What do you think?