BeReal launches marketing push to put the “realest person on earth” on a Times Square billboard

Remember BeReal? The hottest new social media app of 2022 has faded a bit in the current calendar year, but it’s looking to regain some momentum through its first-ever global marketing campaign. It is searching for the “realest person on earth,” who will win a vacation and appear on a billboard in New York’s Times Square.

Details about the contest are available via its official website, though BeReal is also soliciting submissions on platforms like Instagram and X. Entrants are encouraged to “send us your wildest, most spontaneous BeReal” for a chance to win the grand prize: A trip anywhere in the world and a series of real-world placements that includes the Times Square spot. Four runners-up will each receive a consolation prize of $5,000.

The contest arrived days after the publication of a report that claimed BeReal’s user base has fallen 18% since its 2022 peak, when it made an appearance in the White House. The app initially struck a chord with consumers by encouraging them to share their authentic selves, and it seemed like it could become the next great platform for creator monetization

. But its hot start has proven difficult to maintain.

BeReal contested the findings of the report and noted that it currently has 25 million daily active users. And with its first global campaign rolling out, its Head of Field Marketing Julian Hislop is highlighting the app’s growth potential.

“We’re in a really comfortable position. We finally got to a point whereby the app is working really well,” Hislop said. “We started thinking about new features that we’re going to be releasing and so we thought, ‘OK, now’s a great time whereby we can finally start running really creative, fun, marketing campaigns.'”

The search for the “realest person on earth” will run until November 7, when submissions will close. The full terms of the competition can be found on the BeReal website.