Why Is Instagram Aggressively Copycatting Every BeReal App Feature?

In its never-ending quest to copy all of its competitors (see below), Instagram is reportedly working on a copycat BeReal app feature. Instagram has already aggressively copied features from several of its competitors including Snapchat, Twitter, and TikTok. But is it different this time? Are Instagram’s days numbered?

Instagram Is Reportedly Working On Cloning BeReal’s Best App Features

Instagram is developing a new app features that copies the authentic photo-sharing app, BeReal. This move clearly shows how threatened Instagram is by BeReal, which continues to hold on to the number one spot in the U.S. on Apple’s App Store charts this week.

Instagram’s new BeReal copycat app feature, called Candid Challenges, will randomly prompt users to take spontaneous selfies with both the front and back cameras. This function bears a striking similarity to the popular BeReal app, which has quickly become one of the most popular social media apps because of its focus on authenticity.

Instagram’s unreleased Candid Challenges feature was discovered by Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer known for reverse engineering apps and finding early versions of upcoming updates.

According to Paluzzi, the Candid Challenges app feature will notify users at different times each day to take a photo of their surroundings using both cameras within a two-minute window, just like the BeReal app feature. This content will appear in the Instagram Stories.

Paluzzi shared an Instagram screenshot on Twitter showing the copycat app feature. In the image, Instagram prompts 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.”

In a follow up tweet, Paluzzi shared a screenshot of Candid Challenges’ copycat dual camera screen. The similarities between Candid Challenges and BeReal are so close that it’s embarrassing. Instagram even copied BeReal’s two-minute countdown.

After Paluzzi exposed evidence of Instagram’s copycat efforts, a spokesperson from Meta had no choice by to confirm it. Meta spokesperson Christine Pai confirmed the feature to the The Verge and said that that Instagram’s BeReal copycat “is an internal prototype, and not testing externally.”

Instagram’s History Of Cloning The Best App Features Of Its Competitors

Instagram can’t help itself from cloning the best app features from its competitors.

• Vines: In 2013, Vines were all the rage. Users could create looping 6 second video loops. Copying Vine, Instagram added a 15-second video clip feature that forced Vine to shutdown.
• Snapchat Stories: Snapchat Stories allow users to post a photo that will disappear after 24 hours. Instagram thought it was a good idea too and announced Instagram Stories in August 2016. The feature was such a hit that the company rolled out the feature twice with the launch of Facebook Stories in March 2017. 
• TikToks: In early 2020, bored social media users during the COVID lockdowns flocked to TikTok for quick and never-ending scroll feed entertainment. A few months later, Instagram released their own “TikTok” feature called Instagram Reels in August 2020.  Once again, Meta decided to roll out a copycat Instagram feature to Facebook. Facebook Reels launched in September 2021.
• BeReal’s Dual Camera: In July 2022, Instagram released its own version of a dual camera feature called Dual. Just like BeReal, Dual allows users to capture front and back-facing media at the same time. 
• BeReal’s 2-Min Time Limit: In August 2022, developer Alessandro Paluzzi discovered an unreleased Instagram feature called Candid Challenges that copies BeReal’s 2-minute promot to share a photo.

Why Is Instagram So Aggressive With Copying Their Competitors, Especially Every BeReal App Feature?

The lengths that Meta will go to copy every innovative feature from their competitors is embarrassing. Why are they so desperate? Money. Meta will do everything it can to prevent Instagram from loosing relevance and suffering the same sad fate as Facebook.

As apps like TikTok and BeReal continue to soar in popularity, the Facebook app is now struggling to hold on to its “Top 10” app status in the Apple and Google app stores. 

Meta is already making a risky billion dollar gamble on the Metaverse. As Facebook’s popularity has dwindled, Instagram is now its last flagship product. At one point, someone has to pay for Mark Zuckerberg’s silly Metaverse experiment.