How BeReal missed its moment

BeReal has lost momentum since its mid-2023 surge, and the author argues its recent product choices show it is not yet solving the core problem of keeping users engaged. Citing Apptopia data reported by The New York Times, the author notes daily users fell 61 percent from about 15 million in October to under six million in March, a figure BeReal disputed in an unsigned blog post claiming 20 million daily users. The author criticizes the team for shipping only a couple of user-facing features in nine months and for launching "bonus BeReals," a UK test that the author says looks like a more restrictive version of Instagram stories. The article also notes the company's policy that statements be attributed only to "the BeReal Crew," not individuals.