How BeReal Built 41M Users by Breaking Every Social Media Rule
Sat Feb 07 2026
In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Moore, U.S. Managing Director of BeReal, one of the most culturally relevant social apps of the past decade.
With 41M+ monthly active users worldwide, BeReal became App of the Year 2022 by doing what most social platforms wouldn’t: going against algorithms, filters, and AI-driven content.
With a background leading growth and monetization at TikTok, Walmart Connect, and global media networks, Ben brings a rare inside perspective on what actually drives product-market fit, retention, and cultural relevance in consumer apps.
If you’re building a consumer app and struggling with retention, differentiation, or product-market fit, this conversation will challenge conventional growth advice and give you a clearer playbook for what actually works in 2026 and beyond.
You will discover:
✅ How BeReal scaled to 41M MAU by removing algorithms instead of optimizing for them
✅ Creator-led growth in 2026 and beyond
✅ Lessons from BeReal’s journey: from viral hype → durable, loyal product
✅ Practical lessons app founders can apply to build durable growth in saturated markets
Learn More:
🌐 BeReal → https://bereal.com
🔗 Connect with Ben Moore → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjacobmoore/
You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/EOaBZvcvbg8
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What teams love about it? It’s stable, accurate, and built to handle everything the mobile world throws at you — privacy changes, creative optimization, you name it.
And when you need help? Their global support team is there 24/7 — not just to fix things, but to help you grow.
If you’re ready to level up your mobile marketing and make smarter decisions, check out AppsFlyer.com
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Follow us:
YouTube: AppMasters.com/YouTubeInstagram: @App MastersTwitter: @App MastersTikTok: @stevepyoungFacebook: App Masters
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More
In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Moore, U.S. Managing Director of BeReal, one of the most culturally relevant social apps of the past decade. With 41M+ monthly active users worldwide, BeReal became App of the Year 2022 by doing what most social platforms wouldn’t: going against algorithms, filters, and AI-driven content. With a background leading growth and monetization at TikTok, Walmart Connect, and global media networks, Ben brings a rare inside perspective on what actually drives product-market fit, retention, and cultural relevance in consumer apps. If you’re building a consumer app and struggling with retention, differentiation, or product-market fit, this conversation will challenge conventional growth advice and give you a clearer playbook for what actually works in 2026 and beyond. You will discover: ✅ How BeReal scaled to 41M MAU by removing algorithms instead of optimizing for them ✅ Creator-led growth in 2026 and beyond ✅ Lessons from BeReal’s journey: from viral hype → durable, loyal product ✅ Practical lessons app founders can apply to build durable growth in saturated markets Learn More: 🌐 BeReal → https://bereal.com 🔗 Connect with Ben Moore → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjacobmoore/ You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/EOaBZvcvbg8 ********************************************* SPONSORS Got tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore. Learn more at https://encorekit.com/ ********************************************* Still designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide. Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am ********************************************* If you’re advertising your growing mobile app, you need a measurement partner you can actually rely on — and that’s where AppsFlyer comes in. It gives you a clear view of your entire funnel — from the first impression all the way to the install, in-app events, and user LTV. You’ll know what’s driving real results, and what’s just noise. What teams love about it? It’s stable, accurate, and built to handle everything the mobile world throws at you — privacy changes, creative optimization, you name it. And when you need help? Their global support team is there 24/7 — not just to fix things, but to help you grow. If you’re ready to level up your mobile marketing and make smarter decisions, check out AppsFlyer.com ********************************************* Follow us: YouTube: AppMasters.com/YouTubeInstagram: @App MastersTwitter: @App MastersTikTok: @stevepyoungFacebook: App Masters *********************************************