BeReal Terror: Why Japan's New Employees are Accidentally Leaking Corporate Secrets

In recent years, "BeReal Terror"—where new employees post confidential workplace information to the popular social media app BeReal—has emerged as a major social concern in Japan. This trend is particularly prevalent during the April hiring season, with multiple security breaches reported in financial institutions, educational settings, and other high-security environments, forcing companies to re-evaluate their crisis management.

BeReal asks users to share an unedited "real" moment within two minutes of receiving a random notification, using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. This strict time limit and the app's gamified nature are believed to lower the psychological barrier to posting, causing employees to reflexively capture and share photos even while performing sensitive tasks.

Incidents involving leaked internal photos and confidential data at major institutions like Nishi-Nippon City Bank have recently gone viral online. Public reaction has been severe, with critics noting that such slips can "destroy decades of trust in an instant." Similar incidents have been confirmed in schools and the construction sector, highlighting a cross-industry crisis.

Compared to previous "Bakatter" (malicious Twitter posts) or "Part-time Job Terror" scandals, "BeReal Terror" is distinct because the leaks often occur without malicious intent, appearing as a natural extension of a user's daily habits. Middle-aged management teams often fail to include these specific SNS risks in onboarding programs due to a lack of understanding of the platform. This has led some to call it the "ultimate vulnerability" in information security, prompting some to explore AI-driven solutions to mitigate risks.

Experts stress that companies must go beyond standard ISMS (Information Security Management System) compliance by strictly limiting personal devices and restructuring digital literacy programs. There is an urgent need to teach new hires that sharing their "real-life" activities with the world while still in a student mindset can have devastating consequences for their employer's survival.

The context

In Japan, the term "Part-time Job Terror" (Baito-tero) and "Bakatter" (a portmanteau of "baka" meaning idiot and Twitter) have long described cases where employees post inappropriate or unhygienic content to social media to gain attention. Unlike those intentional acts of mischief, "BeReal Terror" is usually accidental, stemming from the app's requirement to post immediately regardless of the user's location. The timing is particularly sensitive because April 1st marks the start of the Japanese fiscal and academic year, when a massive wave of new graduates enters the workforce. This influx of "digital natives" into traditional, high-security corporate environments often creates a culture clash regarding privacy and information security expectations.