Privatized social media platforms like BeReal and Snapchat have gained major popularity, especially among younger adults. Unlike public platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, these privatized apps offer a different kind of social media experience.
While traditional platforms have been criticized for enabling online bullying, targeted harassment, and mental health issues, privatized social media aims to create a safer and more authentic environment.
Privacy
One of the biggest advantages of platforms like BeReal and Snapchat is privacy.
On BeReal, only the friends you choose can view and interact with your posts. Outsiders and strangers are completely blocked from access. To encourage genuine participation, BeReal requires users to post their own daily photo before they can view others’ content.
Because of these strong privacy controls, open-source intelligence agencies cannot collect and preserve data from BeReal. While some Snapchat profiles can be made public to share featured posts, even then, the amount of visible information is limited.
Private profiles can help prevent:
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Online bullying
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Cyberstalking
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Inappropriate or criminal activity
By controlling who can see their posts, users reduce the risk of connecting with online predators, bullies, or unwanted viewers.
Mental Health
Privatized platforms also offer mental health benefits.
BeReal encourages users to share real, unfiltered moments. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok—where polished, idealized posts are the norm—BeReal eliminates the need for filters, follower counts, or hashtags.
Users can only post once per day, which helps limit screen time and creates a healthier relationship with social media.
In contrast, traditional platforms often promote “influencer culture,” which can amplify feelings of comparison and anxiety. By minimizing these elements, BeReal supports a more genuine and positive user experience.
What does this mean for capturing evidence online?
The privacy of social media plays an integral role in the ability to capture a subject’s content. While SMI Aware collects and preserves open-source intelligence and information on the web, subject profiles must be public in order to be discovered and collected. Social media monitoring and updating our proprietary software are some of the ways we keep up with the changing landscape of open-source intelligence. SMI Aware recommends privatized accounts especially for young social media users who are susceptible to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and online predators. If you have questions about starting an investigation, contact SMI Aware today.
Written in collaboration with Ashlyn Gray
