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From time to time, many of us slightly exaggerate our daily lives online. One study has found that only 29% of people would post a picture of themselves on social media without editing it first. After all, we tend to promote our best moments while leaving out the bad or the mundane.

When it comes to the world of face filters and airbrushing techniques, enhancing your favorite features and reshaping your body has become terrifyingly easy. In fact, some Instagrammers edit their photos so much, there’s a whole community dedicated to calling them out. Enter the Instagram Reality subreddit, where people are on a mission to expose those who have taken it way too far.

As the moderators write, “it’s unbelievable how some people get away with it while others don’t!” So take a look at some of the best posts this online group had to offer right below. And if you’re in the mood for some more ridiculous manipulations, check out our previous posts about them here, here, and here.

#1

Scarred Me A Little Bit, Not Gonna Lie

Scarred Me A Little Bit, Not Gonna Lie

Malow Report

#2

Found One In The Wild - I Am Flabbergasted

Found One In The Wild - I Am Flabbergasted

chantoi Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is it with these huge bums? Who ever made this a thing and why do other woman want to look like that? I mean, YES a curvy body is beautiful but this is ridiculous.

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#3

When A Family Member Accidentally Posts Your Real Face

When A Family Member Accidentally Posts Your Real Face

pyretta-blazeit Report

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UncleRussian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't even understand the point of Photoshopping here, she looks fine without any of the post editing bs that she does, like, I know it's probably a mental issue but that's not the way to solve it

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Earlier on, Bored Panda reached out to the head moderator of Instagram Reality, Zaza9000. They told us they try to keep this online community easy to engage with and be a part of, which is one of the reasons why this subreddit has become so popular. “Last year, so many people have shared interesting stories from their personal lives,” the moderator added, saying they really hope this trend continues.

As of today, this online group has amassed more than 1M members who reveal how some Instagrammers go way overboard with their photoshopping skills. However, Zaza9000 said that recently there has been more and more interest in video editing. “Especially apps like Facetune2 and SNOW that allow you to edit your body and certain Instagram filters that can make your lips appear bigger and make your skin unrealistically perfect. Seeing them glitch in videos has been a really popular topic on the sub,” they explained.

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#5

She Says That Her Goal Is To Be A French Doll. Her Instagram vs. An Interview

She Says That Her Goal Is To Be A French Doll. Her Instagram vs. An Interview

Moon-Desu Report

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you don't grow up from the "I can grow up to be anything in this world" phase

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#6

Noses Are Clearly Overrated...who Even Needs Them?

Noses Are Clearly Overrated...who Even Needs Them?

keyneem Report

Zaza9000 continued: “For us non-influencer regular people, of course, travel isn’t always an option, especially if it’s just for a vacation away. Unfortunately, there have been a few influencers that don’t care, to be blunt. Some of them feel like traveling and being on vacation is necessary and well-deserved even though people in the medical field, teachers, retail workers, etc. don’t get to just jump on a jet and get away.”

#7

How Do I Tell Someone To Tone Down The Filter?

How Do I Tell Someone To Tone Down The Filter?

IL-10 Report

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#9

When You Can't Hide The Lines In The Background Warping So You Photoshop Them Out Entirely

When You Can't Hide The Lines In The Background Warping So You Photoshop Them Out Entirely

SeductiveGuacamole Report

Moreover, some Instagrammers fake their whole lives. Whether they do it to collect followers, attract attention, or simply show that their life is worthy to be looked at, people can be greatly affected by seeing such manipulations online. In a previous interview, Dr. Cortney Warren told Bored Panda that people tend to lie on social media. They usually do that “by presenting an image of themselves and their lives that reflects what they wish were true.”

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A board-certified clinical psychologist and author of Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self-Deception thinks that they want to show “a more glamorous version of themselves and their lives that shows the fun, interesting parts of themselves and ignores the blemishes.”

#10

Found On An Instragram Story. It Scared The Bejesus Out Of Me

Found On An Instragram Story. It Scared The Bejesus Out Of Me

asscrawler Report

#11

A Very Famous 63 Year Old Woman Completely Unrecognizable

A Very Famous 63 Year Old Woman Completely Unrecognizable

chair909 Report

“Although selective self-presentation and lying about ourselves on social media may not seem like a surprise (or even a big deal), it can affect us greatly,” Warren noted. We humans have a natural tendency to believe that others are honest with us. “A large body of research suggests that we are programmed to trust others. Although the reasons for our tendency to trust are complex, without interpersonal connectedness and a fundamental belief that those around will support you, protect you, and treat you respectfully, we feel unsafe.”

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#15

She Uses The One On The Left For Her Job Application… I Really Don’t Understand It, I Also Love Filters, But I’m Well Aware That They Change My Appearance And Doesn’t Look Like Me. But She Use The Picture For A Job Application?! Smh

She Uses The One On The Left For Her Job Application… I Really Don’t Understand It, I Also Love Filters, But I’m Well Aware That They Change My Appearance And Doesn’t Look Like Me. But She Use The Picture For A Job Application?! Smh

Gossiplover118 Report

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Braineating Spleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well she looks like a junkie Without the filter so I'm guessing it's to get in the door.

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So when people are dishonest on social media, it can be problematic. “We internally presume that what is presented is true,” she explained. “That people are naturally as good-looking as their photos appear. That people’s daily home life is as perfect as the pictures depict. That others have very few gut-wrenching struggles. That people around us are in a habitual state of going on vacation, eating out, and parenting blissfully.”

“This is clearly not true,” the psychologist explained. “And although we are less aware of the realities of other people’s lives, we are well aware of the ways in which our own lives are NOT ideal.” When we compare ourselves with “the idealized images and unreasonably positive life accounts that tend to permeate social media, we are likely to feel more poorly about ourselves and our lives.”

#16

Do People Still Believe These Are Real Photos?

Do People Still Believe These Are Real Photos?

writerrani Report

#17

What The Model Posted vs. The Getty Photagrapher

What The Model Posted vs. The Getty Photagrapher

PsychologicalStory66 Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's prettier in real life. In the first picture she looks so generic...

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Warren told us that there’s a growing body of research suggesting that “social media use can negatively affect your psychological health, particularly if you compare yourself to the people or images you see online.” She mentioned a study of 339 college women, where “the tendency to compare oneself to others was associated with poorer body esteem and a greater desire to use social media to make such body comparisons.”

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#19

This Girl With Polish And Scandinavian Parents Suddenly Turning Into A Brazilian

This Girl With Polish And Scandinavian Parents Suddenly Turning Into A Brazilian

Objective-Diver-4313 Report

#20

I... I Don't Even Know What To Say. Lord Have Mercy

I... I Don't Even Know What To Say. Lord Have Mercy

chantoi Report

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She seems to have an unusual syndrome where her lips only close if they’re clamping down on a cigarette…

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#21

I Could Be Wrong But I Don’t Think That’s How Upper Thighs Work

I Could Be Wrong But I Don’t Think That’s How Upper Thighs Work

scarafied Report

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Eb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like when Professor Lockhart removed the bones in Harry's arm.

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We all lie—and on social media, this is rampant. “Often, people do it to try to project an image of what they wish were true. To make ourselves look more beautiful. Smarter. More successful. As though we have a more fun life!”

Warren advised you, dear readers, to be fully honest with yourselves. “If you catch yourself in the act of lying, pause. Ask yourself why you are doing it. As you understand what’s motivating your lies, you can be more honest with yourself about who you want to be and how you want to act,” she concluded.

#23

Do People Actually Fall For This Kind Of Crap?! 800+ Comments Telling Her She’s Beautiful

Do People Actually Fall For This Kind Of Crap?! 800+ Comments Telling Her She’s Beautiful

thelionmermaid Report

#24

A Famous Singer In Romania (What She Posts On Ig vs. Screenshot From A Video)

A Famous Singer In Romania (What She Posts On Ig vs. Screenshot From A Video)

Misu1531 Report

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UncleRussian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm beginning to believe that these people have never seen another human beings skin because nobody's skin is as smooth as sheet of iron no matter how much you douse it in products for it

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#25

Do Brands Even Look At Photos Before Sharing Them?

Do Brands Even Look At Photos Before Sharing Them?

EverFinch Report

#26

Photographer Posted His “Retouching” Work On A Facebook Group

Photographer Posted His “Retouching” Work On A Facebook Group

halchemy Report

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Susie Elle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The left photo has weird lighting, the model herself looks stunning. No need to photoshop (as far as there is ever a need to photoshop at all)

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#27

You Know What's Bizarre.. I Opened This Ad Listing For A Wig And Thought It Was A Person With A Really Bad Photoshop Job, But It's Actually A Badly Photoshopped Mannequin. Even They Aren't Safe Anymore

You Know What's Bizarre.. I Opened This Ad Listing For A Wig And Thought It Was A Person With A Really Bad Photoshop Job, But It's Actually A Badly Photoshopped Mannequin. Even They Aren't Safe Anymore

justukyte Report

#28

This Instagram Account That Charges For "Editing Tutorials"

This Instagram Account That Charges For "Editing Tutorials"

a_ghost_behind_you Report

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Ember
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ‘After’ picture looks like a cartoon character

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Parthania Dawson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone on this here look like cartoon characters. I've decided that was their intention, so congrats.

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PalmKitty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If her eyes where a little bit farther from each other in the second photo she’d be considered a herbivore.

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William Welch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you kiss the plastic doll on right, maybe she turns into the cute as hell lady on the left?

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Julien Ashby-Steele
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

she just put on a little makeup and what looks like a photoshoped jpeg of a wig

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Elizabeth VanDyke
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Black girls trying to look white and white girls trying to look black. What the hell?

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Blue Sonnet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the heck does the headband merge into the hair on the left? Or have hair growing out of it on the other side?? It looks like she's painted it into her hairline!

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's beautiful in the original picture. A clone in the "after" picture.

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Marco Conti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She has very good natural features, high cheekbones, flawless skin. WTH? The retouched (more like hit by a semi truck) photo is a travesty and makes her look like she had a stroke during a long make up session.

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Amber Hartman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was so beautiful naturally! Why? Why do people do this to themselves?

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rumade
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her before is so friendly looking; I love her natural nose and its sad she feels she has to edit it :(

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xolitaire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how they accidentally put some of the blending colour from the face on the turtleneck

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#29

75y Old Dutch Television Personality. Left A Recent Pic On Instagram, Right Am Event In 2019

75y Old Dutch Television Personality. Left A Recent Pic On Instagram, Right Am Event In 2019

Extreme_Pomegranate Report

#30

Spotted On Facebook. It Feels Almost Satirical In Its Lack Of Awareness

Spotted On Facebook. It Feels Almost Satirical In Its Lack Of Awareness

Rowena1994 Report

#31

I Just Has To Share This Find

I Just Has To Share This Find

Aleztriplea Report

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Sheila Stamey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a heck of a bee sting, son. Better get something for that. 😂

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#32

2 UK Influencers Got Posted Unfiltered By A Modeling Agency

2 UK Influencers Got Posted Unfiltered By A Modeling Agency

SupremeWaifu69 Report

#33

She Has Straight Up Just Drawn A Leg In There

She Has Straight Up Just Drawn A Leg In There

onlyeightfingers Report

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#35

Local Makeup Artist Photoshopping Clients-2nd Slide Is Screenshot From Video She Posted- Same Girl

Local Makeup Artist Photoshopping Clients-2nd Slide Is Screenshot From Video She Posted- Same Girl

kce2003 Report

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gurl, I am jealous of your natural beauty, why tf did u photoshop and cover-up all that goodness!?

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Note: this post originally had 99 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.