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No matter how beautiful and ‘perfect’ the photos on your Instagram feed might look, not all of them are real. Some are so heavily photoshopped, edited, and altered, it’s borderline ridiculous. I know, it sounds unbelievable that somebody would lie on the internet like this!

This is where the Instagram Reality subreddit comes in. It’s a community that finds and shames the most heavily photo-edited IG pictures. Check out their newest pics below and upvote the ones that blew your minds the most, dear Pandas. And read on for Bored Panda's interview with one of the moderators at r/InstagramReality, redditor Cluelessnumber7.

After you’re done scrolling down in disbelief, you might want to have a look through Bored Panda’s previous posts about the weird world of Instagram vs. Reality photos here, here, and here.

#1

He Forgot To Photoshop The iPhone Box’s Shadow

He Forgot To Photoshop The iPhone Box’s Shadow

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#3

She's 50 Years Old And Photoshops Herself To Look Like She's In Her Late 20s. Women, There Is Nothing Wrong With Looking Your Age. You're Not Expected To Look Like A 20 Year Old Forever

She's 50 Years Old And Photoshops Herself To Look Like She's In Her Late 20s. Women, There Is Nothing Wrong With Looking Your Age. You're Not Expected To Look Like A 20 Year Old Forever

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Moderator Cluelessnumber7 explained to Bored Panda about the two main negative effects of heavily photoshopping photos. "The first? The unrealistic expectations influencers purport to their impressionable followers. The amazingly smooth skin, suddenly common almond shaped eyes, pouty lips, sharp jaw lines, slim hourglass shapes, and so on," they said.

"What’s being lost by just posting that photo for the masses is the time it took to pick the outfit, hunt down the right lighting, pick which hand to take the selfies with (yes, seriously), and that’s all before smoothing, refining, and resizing in Facetune. Without disclosing that, there is now a countless amount of people comparing themselves (and perhaps spending money to look like) a person who doesn’t exist," the redditor pointed out one of the dangers of influencers heavily altering their own appearance.

#4

Not Even Craters Are Safe From Mad Filtering

Not Even Craters Are Safe From Mad Filtering

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, it's the guy in the lower picture exposing another influenza madness. He is not the idiot here.

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#5

I Didn’t Know There Was A Wax Statue In Milan

I Didn’t Know There Was A Wax Statue In Milan

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#6

Shrunken Head

Shrunken Head

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Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One hand tiny, other hand HUGE! I don't know what she was trying to achieve here, but it hasn't worked.

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"The second is one that many people don’t like to address—the insecurities of those who feel the need to edit their photos. They’ve been editing their photos for so long it could mean losing the validation from their followers, losing followers, and maybe losing sponsors if they came clean. So, they would rather enjoy the false fame, than risk losing it over integrity."

We also wanted to find out what steps could be taken to reduce the amount of photo-editing that people do online. "This is a very complicated question, but one step that we should fight for is to get rid of all filters that alter the shape, size, or proportions of anything to do with someone’s body," Cluelessnumber7 told us.

"Filters have become a crutch for so many people on Instagram that they now edit their still photos to look like their filtered Snapchat videos; adjusting their noses, tone of their skin, smoothing all blemishes, adding lashes in post," they said. "These filters, while fun, are surprisingly insidious. You don’t realize that you expect to look like the filtered version of yourself, until you attempt to take a photo without them."

#8

“No Filter” But Instagram Says Otherwise At The Top

“No Filter” But Instagram Says Otherwise At The Top

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Kate
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No filter but in addition to her eyes, somehow all the pores from her face and lines on her fingers have also disappeared.

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#9

I Thought People Had More Sense Than To Believe This Is Real, But She Popped Up On My Feed Because Friends Of Mine Shared Images Like This As "Goals"

I Thought People Had More Sense Than To Believe This Is Real, But She Popped Up On My Feed Because Friends Of Mine Shared Images Like This As "Goals"

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While there’s nothing wrong with putting an artistic filter on a photo to slightly change the colors, it’s easy to go overboard. A handful of changes can become a dozen which then become a hundred and soon enough, you’ve airbrushed yourself so much, you can’t even recognize yourself anymore.

According to Brooke Erin Duffy, an assistant professor at Cornell University studying self-presentation on Instagram, “Nobody wants to be called fake.” So deciding how much to edit your photos is a huge dilemma for influencers.

“Influencers very much feel they need to present themselves authentically while getting the best image possible,” she told The Guardian.

#10

The Mirror Always Seems To Expose These People

The Mirror Always Seems To Expose These People

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Mel Fairfeather
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, wait. This one... I don't think it's photoshopped, or at least it isn't photoshopped much. Speaking as a pro photographer who DOES do retouching, but also works ALLLLL the angles, this one looks like she's sucking in and twisted so the reflection makes her look much thicker in the waist than what you see when looking from this angle. There's also something dark just behind her elbow in the reflection that makes her waist look thicker too. It's just a shade lighter than the dress. This one doesn't belong here, I don't think.

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#12

Can‘t Believe How She Thinks That’s Acceptable

Can‘t Believe How She Thinks That’s Acceptable

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nanashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if you point it out to these people, how do they respond to them? they surely know that's not how a human being looks like, right?

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Tovah Roche
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yellow is DEFINITELY not your color. It makes your body look like you did a s****y job photoshopping.

klynch4 avatar
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I more disturbed by the number of likes. Are there really that many people out there who find the the "Alien Barbie with beach ball breasts" look attractive- it honestly makes me kind of sad. Yikes, this is faker than the Kardashians.

lizmolloy1969 avatar
Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fake nose, fake lips, fake boobs ... why are we surprised young people are making themselves ill trying to follow these idiots?

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Catherine Todd
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just sickening, physically, mentally and emotionally. The Kardashians have changed everything and not for the better. What is wrong with people that they can't just accept themselves the way they are??? Are women always going to be going crazy about their looks? This is as nuts as the women wearing bustles "back in the day." Ridiculous!

caroline-murphy93 avatar
Caroline Murphy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Until recently I've been referred to as the skinny friend and some people were envious. I've started to put on weight (not much, I'm a healthy weight) and I personally think I look much better, and instead of being a stick, I have some curves

caroline-murphy93 avatar
Caroline Murphy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I'm trying to say is, being skinny isn't the ideal. I don't know why a lot of people think it is

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azziza avatar
Azziza
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WHY do women think 1. this looks good and 2. these shapes are physically possible? Because 1. this does NOT look good and 2. it would be impossible to actually have that shape.

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Candy Chitty
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I laugh at these self-absorbed people and how wonderful they THINK they look.

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Farah Moloobhai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't believe how 26,247 other people think this is acceptable!!!

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Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to believe that people who do this have severe body dysmorphia. I'm guessing she is a lovely woman with a nice body, but thinks looking like this weird alien thing is better. It is sad.

kadymaree1308 avatar
Kady Maree Mcgrath
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you want a tiny waist then go back to the 1800s and find yourself a corset and find some pillows to stuff up your dress to looks "real"

skapon avatar
Sharon Kapon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why, why in hell would any woman want to look like that. It's disgusting

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Mavi Hava
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what color suits you more? whatever color someone tells her, Ill bets she photoshops it to make it a different color ;D

cccarter69 avatar
Cheryl Carter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why, just why? Your gorgeous without a 12 inch waist. Doesn't look real at all.

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Nancy Bernard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She certainly has fallen in love with herself. Good thing, since everyone else is gagging looking at her ridiculous idea of beauty.

booksfeedthemind avatar
Donna Leske
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

she just rose from her deathbed - to say "farewell cruel world"

carmen9369 avatar
Carmen Honacker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Super disturbing that she got over 26,000 likes! This perfectly illustrates what's wrong with our world, if people think THIS is beautiful.

trindm avatar
Trin DM
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Standard" expectations is the issue here! 36-24-36 is not it!

katieandjaredcoates avatar
Kisses4Katie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And she has that many likes? Are they blind, never seen a human, or bots?

erikesot avatar
Beli Keshini
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the sense in that? Nobody thinks it is real and everybody thinks it is embarassing.

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In real life she would snap at her ankles because she's top heavy.

captijn avatar
Pan Narrans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if I was in the market for a sex robot I might consider something like this.

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Uwu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks like she has some serious back problems

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Emy Loves
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm beginning to lose faith in humanity and our future. So who is worse off? The needy, desperate ones who do the photoshopping of themselves or the ones who believe it, find it attractive and "like it"? This c**p has got to have an enormous effect on people's brain functioning, perceptions and emotions.

blueyodel73 avatar
Brian Irby
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not just the stork legs and side that was apparently eaten off by animals, it is the vapid facial expression.

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Justina_pal
BoredPanda Staff
Verified
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

https://lior-boutique.com/en/platya/ if you want more :)

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Meanwhile, the Instagram Reality community moderators further shared their own thoughts about photoshopping pictures in a previous interview with Bored Panda.

According to them, Instagram users want to see influencers post natural photos of themselves, not something that’s been “edited to hell” and back. The mods remain optimistic that influencers will eventually realize that, especially with part of the global population still stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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#13

The Original Has Finally Seen The Light Of Day

The Original Has Finally Seen The Light Of Day

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Kisses4Katie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These women are really insecure. I'm not saying I'm not, but I don't try and fight it.

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#14

I Literally Have No Words...

I Literally Have No Words...

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Awia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is also a croatian wannabe celebrity. He did soooo many plastic surgery he doesn't even look like a human anymore. Google Neven Ciganovic

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#15

Blursed Rich Man

Blursed Rich Man

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The things that make people yearn to photoshop themselves into ‘perfect’ human beings are “insecurity, envy, and money,” as well as avoiding embarrassment because you think you might have hang-ups about some parts of your body or face.

However, natural photos have a lot of charm because they’re authentic, honest, and more people can relate to them.

#18

Don’t Compare Yourself To Photoshopped People

Don’t Compare Yourself To Photoshopped People

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#19

Ribs? Only For Dinner

Ribs? Only For Dinner

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#21

Oh My God

Oh My God

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#22

So What Now, Are We Supposed To Be Ashamed Of Our... Ankles?

So What Now, Are We Supposed To Be Ashamed Of Our... Ankles?

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#23

Had This Saved As Inspiration To Lose Weight When Struggling With An Eating Disorder. Now, I Can’t Believe I Never Noticed The Water Bending Around Her Waist

Had This Saved As Inspiration To Lose Weight When Struggling With An Eating Disorder. Now, I Can’t Believe I Never Noticed The Water Bending Around Her Waist

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

This should not be a body standard to be inspired from, even if it was real

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#24

Eyes, Skin, Cheekbones... So Natural Looking

Eyes, Skin, Cheekbones... So Natural Looking

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#25

I Guess She Thought No One Would Notice Her Editing If She Blurred Out Her Surroundings

I Guess She Thought No One Would Notice Her Editing If She Blurred Out Her Surroundings

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#26

When One Person Posts The Edited Photo And The Other Posts The Original

When One Person Posts The Edited Photo And The Other Posts The Original

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#28

Jawline Looking Like The Hull Of A Ship

Jawline Looking Like The Hull Of A Ship

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#29

So We Gone Talk About That Leg Or Nah

So We Gone Talk About That Leg Or Nah

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#30

On Instagram vs.on TV

On Instagram vs.on TV

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Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know people look different with and without make-up, but if you were going on TV, wouldn't you at least TRY and look something approximating your line image?

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#31

"Water" At Popular Instagram Location In Bali Is Actually An Optical Illusion. It's A Piece Of Glass Under An iPhone

"Water" At Popular Instagram Location In Bali Is Actually An Optical Illusion. It's A Piece Of Glass Under An iPhone

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#32

Armpits Are So Overrated

Armpits Are So Overrated

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#34

Burmese Influencer Claims Her Skinny Waist Come From Eating Healthy

Burmese Influencer Claims Her Skinny Waist Come From Eating Healthy

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#35

Are You Sure About The Non-Photoshop Part?

Are You Sure About The Non-Photoshop Part?

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#38

When I First Saw This, I Thought I Was Still Asleep

When I First Saw This, I Thought I Was Still Asleep

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#39

This Is Why Instagram Needs To Get Banned Like Tiktok

This Is Why Instagram Needs To Get Banned Like Tiktok

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#40

Bendy Grass Around The Waist

Bendy Grass Around The Waist

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least this looks almost realistic. Her organs are probably still where they should be

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Note: this post originally had 84 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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