Instagram is Testing a Copycat BeReal Feature on its App
Instagram is testing a new feature that copies the photo-sharing app BeReal, which continues to hold on to the number one spot in the U.S. on Apple’s App Store charts this week.
Instagram is now running internal tests of a feature called Candid Challenges that will randomly prompt users to take spontaneous selfies with a Dual camera — a function that bears a striking resemblance to BeReal.
The currently unreleased feature was spotted by Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer known for reverse engineering apps and finding early versions of upcoming updates.
#Instagram is working on IG Candid Challenges, a feature inspired by @BeReal_App 👀
ℹ️ Add other's IG Candid to your story tray. And everyday at a different time, get a notification to capture and share a Photo in 2 Minutes. pic.twitter.com/caTCgUPtEV
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 22, 2022
According to Paluzzi, Instagram users participating in Candid Challenges will receive a notification at a different time each day to snap a photo of their surroundings.
Upon getting the prompt, the Instagram camera will also open with both front and rear-facing shooters, and give users a two-minute window to take a photo, just like on BeReal.
Content shared via the Candid Challenges feature will appear in the Stories tab on Instagram.
In the screenshot posted by Paluzzi, Instagram asks users to “Add other’s IG Candid to your story tray,” and “everyday at a different time, get a notification to capture and share a photo in 2 minutes.”
Paluzzi also posted a screenshot of the identical Dual camera on the Candid Challenges function.
ℹ️ This is the camera for IG Candid, you can only turn on the Dual Camera tool 👇 pic.twitter.com/wXisCG8p2U
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 22, 2022
A spokesperson for Instagram’s and Facebook’s parent company, Meta confirmed the feature in a statement given to The Verge.
“This feature is an internal prototype, and not testing externally,” Meta spokesperson Christine Pai tells The Verge.
This is not the first time Instagram has copied photo-sharing app BeReal, which has soared in popularity this year in spite of technical issues.
Last month, Instagram added a new Dual camera feature. Similar to BeReal, the Dual camera feature allows users to record content with their back-facing camera and record their reaction to the event with their front-facing camera at the same time.
As well as competing with BeReal, Meta has also been chasing rival TikTok’s astronomical growth in short-form video this year despite backlash from its users.
A recent report revealed that Facebook has been struggling to maintain its position as a “Top 10” app this year as BeReal, and TikTok continue to gain popularity.
