Instagram is testing a new feature that looks very similar to BeReal, according to app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi.
#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
Paluzzi shared a screenshot of the as-yet-unreleased feature along with Instagram’s description of how Candid Challenges work. “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.”
When Instagram users receive the prompt, the app’s front and back-facing cameras will open, and users will have two minutes to snap simultaneous pictures.
If that experience rings a bell, that’s because it’s virtually identical to BeReal’s primary functionality.
BeReal, the photo-sharing app that prompts users to share one unfiltered photo a day, has seen exponential growth in 2022. It’s currently the #1 social networking app in the App Store, ahead of WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger.
An Instagram spokesperson confirmed the feature’s existence to Engadget, calling it an “internal prototype,” but the app has not confirmed if or when Candid Challenges will roll out to all users.
If the feature does go live, it wouldn’t be the first time Instagram has lifted an idea from a competitor. In 2016, Instagram launched its popular Stories format, a direct copy of Snapchat Stories.
For more on BeReal (and Instagram’s BeReal-inspired features), check out these articles: