Current trends in the use of social networks by Generation Z: BeReal, Instagram and TikTok Tendencias actuales de uso de redes sociales por parte de la Generación Z: BeReal, Instagram y TikTok
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The way younger generations use social media is constantly evolving — not only in terms of the platforms themselves, but also in the types of content and the ways in which they are shared. One such platform is the photo-sharing app BeReal. Although it was launched in 2020, BeReal did not gain traction until the first quarter of 2022, when its number of monthly users increased by 315%, and downloads reached 7.67 million (74.5% of its total downloads since its founding). Generation Z added a new mainstay to its trio of go-to platforms — TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
This article aims to establish a comparison among these four social media platforms, focusing on the most recently launched one, its objectives, and its operation, in order to define the characteristics that determine the reasons behind its current success and its future prospects.
To achieve this, the research will be developed in three phases: first, a review of academic and professional literature will be conducted to establish the theoretical foundations and references for identifying the characteristics of both Generation Z — the primary audience for these apps — and the social networks they use; second, the platforms themselves will be analyzed, examining their functions and basic dynamics; and third, the results of a survey distributed among members of this population group will be presented, with the aim of identifying their current preferences.
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