Jason Koebler, a writer for Vice, wrote that in contrast to Instagram, which presents an unattainable view of people's lives, BeReal instead "makes everyone look extremely boring."[9] Niklas Myhr, a professor of social media at Chapman University, argued that depth of engagement may determine whether the app is a passing trend or has "staying power."[1] Kelsey Weekman, a reporter for BuzzFeed News, noted that the app's unwillingness to "glamorize the banality of life" made it feel "humbling", despite its emphasis on authenticity.[3]