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At this point, Instagram looks like an alternate universe. A place governed by its own laws. A place, where the ultimate creator is photo editing software.

In fact, it's so full of fake influencers, there's even a subreddit dedicated to calling them out, r/InstagramReality. "Social media is a breeding ground for Facetune and Photoshop," the online community writes on its page. "It's unbelievable how some people get away with it while others don't!"

These Internet detectives are on the quest to expose those who have taken it too far: guys who make their biceps so big, they warp the space-time continuum, women with skin so smooth, you can't tell where they chin ends and their necks begin, they're all here.

When you're done scrolling, check out our earlier articles on the subreddit here, here, and here.

#1

I'm Calling Emergency Services. This Injury Is Serious

I'm Calling Emergency Services. This Injury Is Serious

zznnd Report

In an earlier piece on r/InstagramReality, Bored Panda spoke to Siobhan Ward, a primary therapist at Life Works, a rehabilitation center that provides treatment for addictions and eating disorders, about the scope of social media addiction in the United Kingdom.

"If you broke 'social media addiction' down into categories, it would encompass other process or behavioral addictions such as porn and gambling, as well as eating disorders, especially predominant with the likes of Instagram," Ward explained. "It may be that the addiction is not with the social media itself, but the social media has become a tool of other addictions."

The therapist thinks people can't stop faking and editing their Instagram photos (even when it's an obvious lie) because of brain chemistry. "Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that comes into play with the addict — it is what tells us that we enjoy something and therefore need to do it again as it gives us pleasure."

"If the person is taking a lot of selfies that have to be 'perfect', then maybe they are not addicts. Instead, this could be a sign of a possible narcissistic personality disorder. Also, if someone is posting pictures to get as many likes as possible, they may not be getting certain needs met in their life. They may not have the love, support, or even safety that they need now or that they needed when they grew up and therefore have had to find another way to fill that hole," Ward said.

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Interestingly, being reminded that social media is fake can also 'fill' us. In a 2019 study, researchers decided to investigate the effect 'Instagram vs. Reality' pictures (the ones containing side-by-side photographs of the same woman, one an idealized depiction and the other a more natural depiction) have on body image.

They got together 305 women aged between 18 and 30 years, the largest demographic group of Instagram users. The sample had a mean age of 25.34 years, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.98, indicating a slightly overweight sample. The majority of participants identified as Caucasian (69.2%), followed by Latino/Hispanic (11.8%), African American (10.2%), Asian (6.6%), Native American (0.3%), and 'other' (2.0%). The participants were randomly assigned to view one of three sets of Instagram images over a period of time: 'Instagram vs. reality" images, the 'ideal' side alone, or the 'real' side alone.

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"[The study found that] viewing the 'Instagram vs. reality' and real images resulted in decreased body dissatisfaction relative to the ideal images," the researchers wrote. "Furthermore, the detrimental effects of appearance comparison were much less marked for the 'Instagram vs. reality' and real images than for the ideal images. It was concluded that 'Instagram vs. reality' and real posts have the potential to bolster women's body satisfaction, but more research is needed to assess their longer-term impact."

Siobhan Ward said that we need to become aware of what we believe we are getting from the Internet in order to start resisting its temptation. "By understanding why [we] turn to the Internet, [we] can start to think about healthier ways to meet these needs."

#10

Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened Tinder This Morning

Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened Tinder This Morning

reknae Report

#11

I Was Shopping Online When I Saw This Dress... And Those Shoulders...

I Was Shopping Online When I Saw This Dress... And Those Shoulders...

saithesti Report

#12

Faking Swimming With Sharks Is A Thing Now I Guess, By Blatantly Stealing A Background Image From The Internet

Faking Swimming With Sharks Is A Thing Now I Guess, By Blatantly Stealing A Background Image From The Internet

ElonTheRocketEngine Report

#13

I’m Speechless

I’m Speechless

dg_hj25 Report

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vickyz avatar
Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I focused on the leg which is also weird cause the face scares me

h_selvakumar avatar
Sel Bonda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something eerie about this! Sleepless night ahead for me. :-(

yvonne_e5 avatar
Yvonne Blau
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wow she managed to make herself look like an inflatable doll... I'm still not sure this is a real person

melayahm avatar
Caroline Driver
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This girl's on her way to looking like Momo. Perhaps this is the effect she's going for

catea_paulina avatar
Pau Tea
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the SNL sketch when Aidy removes her make-up and her face is just a thumb...a human thumb 🤣

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

Her face looks like the front of a nineteen-thirties car

lois_brown avatar
Lois Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who in their right mind would want their face to look like that?

cindycollins_1 avatar
CincyReds
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Picture is horrid, but why in the world would anyone wear make-up to the pool?

kjl01 avatar
Karen Lyon
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

charliee-ebben187 avatar
Ikiraイキラ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

mom can we go see Arianna Grande?? Mom: no hun, we have Arianna Grande at home. Arianna Grande at home: Arina Granade

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

She ACTUALLY looks like that on a daily basis? Willingly?!?!

_4-2 avatar
Manu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, you think you're ugly and try to raise your self-esteem and what you come up with is THIS?

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

These just make me sad. The spend TIME to make themselves look "better". And they approve of these changes. It's just straight up sad to think how manipulated their body image ideals must be.

danielle-licho avatar
Danie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't decide which looks worse: the mouth or the thigh ? 🤨

rebekahmyers avatar
Janus Sanders
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if Voldemort had a daughter? or am i the only one that thinks they look a little similar?

johnc_1 avatar
John C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this looks like one of those filters my teenager keeps showing me

mbazinetsoce avatar
Moonscorpion
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

ruslana_kusova avatar
Rus Kus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad people don't look like that in realitt. What of world of horrors it'd be

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

that's a way to stay anonymous...nobody will recognize you in the streets

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#14

Ok These Are Getting Ridiculous...

Ok These Are Getting Ridiculous...

_IssaViolin_ Report

#15

That Is One Giant Hand

That Is One Giant Hand

Leathermoss Report

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POST
h_selvakumar avatar
Sel Bonda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bold lady! Seems the hand has been pretty busy with the works.

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#16

I Can’t Decide If This Is A Joke Or Someone Actually Thinks This Is Believable...

I Can’t Decide If This Is A Joke Or Someone Actually Thinks This Is Believable...

sierradwilson Report

#17

Seems Legit (It's A Real Profile From Facebook)

Seems Legit (It's A Real Profile From Facebook)

CyberBuda Report

#18

Found In The Wild - Why Would Anyone Even Post This?

Found In The Wild - Why Would Anyone Even Post This?

Mistresskatiafoxx Report

#19

Chin To Neck Transition?

Chin To Neck Transition?

Tiffbu00 Report

#20

Found On Amazon Reviews

Found On Amazon Reviews

twittlez Report

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#24

I Can’t Look Away... The Eyes, The Teeth... So Bright. The Mouth... So Large

I Can’t Look Away... The Eyes, The Teeth... So Bright. The Mouth... So Large

TheMiddleE Report

#25

This Is Not How Real Hair Looks Like Bro

This Is Not How Real Hair Looks Like Bro

Kingmenudo Report

#28

Same Girl, 10 Year Difference (In Photoshop Skills)

Same Girl, 10 Year Difference (In Photoshop Skills)

UselessBrakes Report

#29

Ahh, They Definitely Look Alike Alright

Ahh, They Definitely Look Alike Alright

"Anyone think my mom and I look alike!? I'm 22 she's 44!"

ennortz Report

#30

Was Reading An Article About Photoshop Fails On Instagram. This Was One Of The Examples

Was Reading An Article About Photoshop Fails On Instagram. This Was One Of The Examples

NoButterOnMyBread Report

Note: this post originally had 84 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.