The popular teen social network BeReal is being acquired by mobile game publisher Voodoo

Mobile game publisher Voodoo has acquired social platform BeReal for €500 million, aiming to expand its reach into the social networking space. Voodoo, known for its ad-supported, free-to-play mobile games, plans to use its technological expertise to scale BeReal, which promotes "spontaneous authenticity" by prompting users to take dual-camera photos during random two-minute windows.

Voodoo's CEO Alexandre Yazdi expressed optimism about integrating Voodoo’s technology with BeReal to enhance the app's unique approach to social media. BeReal's emphasis on unfiltered, spontaneous content sets it apart from more curated platforms like Instagram, and perhaps resemble a bit more other, more "artistic" alternatives like Minutiae, although some critics argue that the content can be mundane. Despite a decline in popularity since its peak in 2022, BeReal has grown to 40 million active users and was awarded Apple’s iPhone App of the Year in 2022 for its appeal among younger audiences.

Leadership changes will see Aymeric Roffé, CEO of Voodoo’s social app Wizz, take over as BeReal’s CEO. BeReal’s founder and previous CEO, Alexis Barreyat, will remain involved temporarily before moving on to new ventures.