This is Harry.
Feels pressure to post aesthetic content
Unsure what qualifies as “good enough”
Phone is filled with AI slop
Gen Z, age 19
Wants to share everyday moments
Likes to scroll on social media
Harry is now happy!
2016 vs 2026?!
User Testing
2016 looked different for everyone. So, we interviewed 7 people to get a better sense of how it was uniquely experienced.
structure
shared participation
low pressure
What do users need?
What is TheDaily?
🚨 New BeReal feature alert! 🚨
Each day, users receive one shared prompt. They can respond using photo, video, text, drawing, or audio. Users must post before viewing others’ responses. There are no metrics, removing performance pressure. All responses are saved in a prompt-based archive.
Product Placement
Perfectionism prevents posting
(01)
Blank canvas anxiety
(02)
Fewer friends posting → less motivation
(03)
Passive scrolling replaces connection
(04)
Pain Points
Low-pressure sharing
(01)
Authentic moments
(02)
Shared experiences
(03)
Feeling connected
(04)
Gain Points
How did social media usage differ between 2016 and 2026?
2016
2026
Social media was to keep up with friends and families
Abundant, inclusive trends made users "feel part of something"
Content creators felt relatable and authentic
Social media for entertainment, especially Explore Page
People have internalized "performance standards" that cause hesitate before posting
During lockdown, content creators strived to be exciting and perfect to be entertaining
Smaller accounts (<100) had the highest frequency in posting content.
introducing…
TheDaily.
Problem Statement
How might we encourage low-pressure, shared participation that brings back spontaneous social media?
Our Process
How TheDaily addresses user needs
Shifts mindset from "is this good enough to post?" to "did i complete today's prompt?"
Removing barriers
New prompts refresh everyday, keeping everyone connected
Daily prompts
Keep up with friends and friends of friends, eliminating strangers from feed
Close-knit communities
Daily prompts simulate the abundant and nostalgic internet challenges of 2016
#the2016challenge
Daily moments. Shared together.
Hayley Chai, Ren Zhang, Sarah Gao
Post it on TheDaily.
BeReal.
1
Prompt
User receives daily prompt notification. EX: “What’s the last song you were listening to?” or "Take a photo of something you've been ignoring".
2
Respond
User responds using any format. Responses unlock others’ posts.
3
Share
Users explore shared submissions. Responses saved to personal archive.
Post on TheDaily.
Be part of it.
