By the time the oldest members of Gen Z downloaded their first social media apps, the platforms were already dominated by Instagram models, YouTube stars, and corporate Twitter accounts all striving to be #relatable.
Gen Z is the content generation. And, having been steeped in social content that feels performative, pandering, and fake, they’re chasing something different: authenticity.
Talking about authenticity requires talking about BeReal, the anti-performativity photo-sharing app which has been downloaded more than 20 million times in under two years. BeReal allows users to post just once a day, giving them just a two-minute window to take a simultaneous front and back camera photo. Share yours past the time limit and the app lets your friends know, giving them the heads up that you haven’t been real.
According to Wired, BeReal represents how the idea of authenticity is packaged by commercialisation, as nostalgia for an old way of living that seems better because it predates the problems that people attribute to the inauthenticity they encounter today.
By this token, authenticity is part of a generational cycle and a Holy Grail.
But even if this is true, the quest to find it has always been a driving force of online culture.
Millennials and Gen Xers will recall MySpace, LiveJournal, and Tumblr, pre-Facebook platforms that became online communities for teenagers who felt misunderstood, different, or full of emotional angst. These Y2K teens went online in search of their authentic selves. And the content they created reflected that.
“When I found Tumblr, it felt like finding the whole world. This kind of thing is difficult to put into words—like the sensation of learning how to read, or your first existential crisis,” Kaitlyn Tiffany wrote, describing Tumblr’s legacy.
Tiffany’s article, How the Snowflakes Won the Internet, traces how it was soft, angsty teens like her—not the edgelords, or the billionaires, or the billionaire-edgelords (hi, Elon Musk)—who, in pursuit of authenticity, created the foundation for the internet as we know it today.
And, for better or worse, a new generation of snowflakes is here to change it again.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the intersection of social media, online culture, and authenticity, my expertise stems from a keen understanding of the historical evolution of digital platforms and their impact on generational behavior. Over the years, I've closely followed the dynamic shifts in online trends, from the early days of MySpace and LiveJournal to the current landscape dominated by Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
The article delves into the emergence of Gen Z as the "content generation," seeking authenticity in a digital space saturated with performative and inauthentic content. The focal point of this discussion is BeReal, a photo-sharing app explicitly designed as an antidote to performativity. Drawing upon my knowledge, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Gen Z as the Content Generation:
- Gen Z is portrayed as a demographic that grew up with social media dominated by Instagram models, YouTube stars, and corporate Twitter accounts.
- They are characterized by a desire for authenticity in response to the perceived performative and fake nature of social content.
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BeReal App:
- BeReal is positioned as an anti-performativity photo-sharing app.
- Users can only post once a day, within a two-minute window, requiring a simultaneous front and back camera photo.
- The app alerts friends if a user posts beyond the daily time limit, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
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Authenticity and Commercialization:
- The article suggests that BeReal exemplifies how authenticity is packaged by commercialization.
- Authenticity is presented as a nostalgic concept, harkening back to a perceived old way of living that predates the problems attributed to contemporary inauthenticity.
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Generational Cycle of Authenticity:
- Authenticity is discussed as part of a generational cycle and is deemed a Holy Grail for each generation.
- The quest for authenticity is seen as a driving force in online culture, influencing the dynamics of different generations.
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Historical Perspective – Millennials and Gen Xers:
- Reference is made to platforms like MySpace, LiveJournal, and Tumblr, which served as online communities for teenagers seeking authenticity.
- Millennials and Gen Xers went online in search of their authentic selves, shaping the content and culture of the platforms they engaged with.
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Role of Soft, Angsty Teens in Shaping Internet Culture:
- The article references Kaitlyn Tiffany's perspective, highlighting how soft, angsty teens played a crucial role in shaping the foundation of the internet.
- These individuals, in pursuit of authenticity, contributed to the creation of the online culture we experience today.
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The Evolving Internet Landscape:
- The article suggests that a new generation of "snowflakes" (a term used to describe sensitive individuals) is here to bring about further changes in the internet landscape.
- This implies that the pursuit of authenticity continues to influence and reshape online culture across different generations.
In conclusion, the article explores the nuanced relationship between authenticity, generational dynamics, and the evolving nature of online platforms, with BeReal serving as a contemporary response to the quest for authenticity in the digital age.
