Instagram Introducing Features Eerily Similar to BeReal

Instagram is on everyone’s tongue––yet again––for copying features popular on other social media apps. This time they have their eyes set on BeReal. Some say copying is the name of the game in the tech world. It isn’t about being first but doing it well. But what do Gen Zers have to say? And how do they view Instagram’s parent company Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg? Knit has the scoop.

What’s the deal with BeReal?

After scrolling back features similar to TikTok, Instagram is now going after BeReal. This popular app is sometimes even called the “anti-Instagram” app. BeReal alerts its users once per day to take a picture and post it. One thing that makes the app special is that the picture is taken with both the front and the back camera. There is also no way to edit your photos. The alert comes at random times, and you only have two minutes to post (there are some grumblings about this since there are ways to curate your pics by posting at a later, more exciting time). As the name says, the idea is to be real––be authentic. And if you’ve read any Knit blogs, you know that authenticity is crucial for Gen Z. They want filters off their Instagram posts.

Gen Z’s thoughts on Instagram’s IG Candid Challenges

Instagram already introduced Dual, which copied BeReal by using the front and back camera at the same time. The next step is the rumored IG Candid Challenges feature. Guess what it will do? Send alerts at a random time to post a pic (front and back of camera simultaneously). And guess how quickly you have to post? You got it. Within two minutes. Doesn’t sound familiar at all. 

Snark aside, we asked our Gen Z respondents if they would use the IG Candid Challenges feature on Instagram if it is released. The responses were interestingly even. 34.6% said they’d use it instead of BeReal. 33.7% said they’d use it in addition to the other app. And 31.7% said they wouldn’t use it all. They plan to stick with BeReal.

But that gives Instagram 68.3% of Gen Z users who’d join in. We’ll curiously wait to see what happens next.

How Gen Z views Meta and Mark Zuckerberg right now

After all these news about Instagram, we were also curious to learn what Gen Zers have to say about Meta and its CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg. About a third (31.8%) of Gen Zers are neutral about Meta, and a little under half (46.7%) have a very favorable or somewhat favorable view of the company. Mark Zuckerberg himself is less popular. Over a third (32.7%) of our respondents have a very unfavorable or somewhat unfavorable opinion of him. That number is 21.5% for Meta itself. On the other end, 35.5% view Mark Zuckerberg as very or somewhat favorable. When selecting what attributes they associate with him, the most mentioned are that he is smart (43.8%) and a good businessman (39%). But as many as 32.4% also find him to be suspicious. Gen Zers are less divided on how they feel about Instagram. 67.3% either love or like it, and as little as 3.8% don’t like or hate it.

Want to keep your finger on the pulse of all things Gen Z and social media? We got what you’re looking for. Get in touch to ask your own pressing questions.