Location data is not perfectly accurate. (In the image above, my friend was actually inside the building across the street from the image of him.) But if you know the person, that approximate location can tell you if he’s at home, at work, or at a friend’s house.
It is very likely that you have not noticed this! That’s why I, your dear friend who only wants the best for you, let you know. I don’t want you to be surprised when you realize what’s happening.
It’s also possible that you already knew, in which case, it doesn’t matter! You may have read about it in other articles from this summer when the app started blowing up, or you may have noticed it on your own when you clicked on your friends’ locations. You’re smart! But, I imagine, just in case, I would let you know. Since I’m such a good friend and all.
In theory, the people you add to BeReal are real-life friends, people you trust. (Though there’s also a “Discovery” tab that features complete strangers from all over the world.) But life is messy. A friend can become an ex-friend. People get involved in all sorts of social situations where things can be unpleasant if their actual location is revealed, not just the name of their town. It could leave some people open to stalking or harassment. Maybe it means you’re revealing someone else’s location or home in the photo.
You have to opt in for location sharing. The problem is that BeReal doesn’t clearly tell you how location sharing works when you turn it on. It is not a data or privacy breach; it’s more of a data problem. You are surprised and a little scared when you realize that the thing works the way it does.
It feels more like the kind of ick data we get when you notice there’s a place in your Facebook settings where you can see all the searches you’ve done (ick), or how in Google Maps you can see all the places I’ve ever been. , to the minute (ick).
These data icks happen when there’s an app or service failure to clearly explain to you how it works, or when it’s doing something contrary to our typical expectations. BeReal has not been able to show users in a clear and simple way how their locations are shared. (When BuzzFeed News contacted BeReal about this situation, an anonymous company representative responded via email that they are always updating the app and shared a generic fact sheet.)
BeReal, for now, is a fun and light-hearted place that’s a nice break from other social networks. healthy, dumb, slow and Whithout ads. Just keep in mind what you’re actually sharing there. I say this as your dearest friend, one who would never harass you using BeReal.
