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The fact that people share an idealized version of themselves on social media, cherry-picking only the best images, thoughts, and experiences isn't new. But the lengths they go to marketing themselves keep surprising even the ones who think they've seen it all.

I'm talking about r/Instagramreality. It's a subreddit whose members strip down the glamor of make-up, flattering poses, and all kinds of photo editing, and expose the truth behind the facade. It's been around since 2017, and we've written about it numerous times (here, here, and here), but even these folks still get baffled at how absurd some of these manipulations are. Here are a few reasons why.

#2

A Fairly Popular Local Influencer Recently Made An Appearance On TV. A Lot Of Her Fans Apparently Had Trouble Recognizing Her At First

A Fairly Popular Local Influencer Recently Made An Appearance On TV. A Lot Of Her Fans Apparently Had Trouble Recognizing Her At First

SwissMercyMain Report

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Klaatu Verrata (Cough)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yikes. Filler is expensive. Always amazes me how much vain people will pay to turn themselves into literal caricatures of themselves.

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In an earlier piece on r/InstagramRealityBored 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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#3

A Man, For A Change. Not Sure If Satire Or For Real. Behold, The Wall-Bending Biceps And Butt

A Man, For A Change. Not Sure If Satire Or For Real. Behold, The Wall-Bending Biceps And Butt

jueoni Report

#5

This Is Funny And All But It’s Getting Out Of Hand

This Is Funny And All But It’s Getting Out Of Hand

stonemilking Report

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

I'm getting the feeling that I'm probably going to make more Slender Man jokes.

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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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#9

In Reality, Birds Flap Their Wings When They Fly

In Reality, Birds Flap Their Wings When They Fly

_waigwe Report

#10

Unfortunately Did Not Pass Her Photoshop Class Though

Unfortunately Did Not Pass Her Photoshop Class Though

fannywaffles Report

"[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."

#11

This Guy Popped Up In My Feed As A Sponsored Story

This Guy Popped Up In My Feed As A Sponsored Story

Lksarchitecs Report

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#12

Yes, The Giant Feet Syndrome, More And Coomon These Days

Yes, The Giant Feet Syndrome, More And Coomon These Days

Slow-Werewolf Report

#13

We’ve Seen Tiny Heads…now Get Ready For Giant Feet!

We’ve Seen Tiny Heads…now Get Ready For Giant Feet!

meep_meep_merp Report

#15

"The Model Has Achieved This By Chewing On A Plastic-Looking Contraption"

"The Model Has Achieved This By Chewing On A Plastic-Looking Contraption"

metti-021 Report

#16

Photoshopped Herself Into Oblivion, Grandpa Can Stay Lookin Old Af

Photoshopped Herself Into Oblivion, Grandpa Can Stay Lookin Old Af

ZeuslovesHer Report

#18

From Her Profile vs. Tagged

From Her Profile vs. Tagged

Yayitselizabeth Report

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Sarcastic Cow
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you photoshoped yourself hard enough to be Kate Siegel. Good job.

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#19

Reminder: This Is Not How These Women Look In Real Life

Reminder: This Is Not How These Women Look In Real Life

jassicassi Report

#20

Internal Organs? Never Heard Of Them

Internal Organs? Never Heard Of Them

look4alec Report

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#22

What The Model Posted vs. Photographer

What The Model Posted vs. Photographer

clutchkickmurphys Report

#23

She Was On A Popular Reality Show. I'll Never Understand Why They Do This When We've All Seen What They Really Look Like!

She Was On A Popular Reality Show. I'll Never Understand Why They Do This When We've All Seen What They Really Look Like!

TheStayAtHomeAtheist Report

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

Why accept the reality show invite if you've modified your online image this much is what I don't understand. You KNOW you don't look like your pictures, so why expose yourself? [Why change yourself this much is a question for another day]

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#25

Arms So Big They Warp The Plane Seats?

Arms So Big They Warp The Plane Seats?

FreddieL2103 Report

#26

This Cannot Be Real! Inhumanly Possible To Look Like This

This Cannot Be Real! Inhumanly Possible To Look Like This

fenixdarkdirk Report

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the guy from TOWIE (UK reality TV show) and he is dangerously thin at the moment

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#27

I Was Startled By This While Scrolling

I Was Startled By This While Scrolling

tedleydoright Report

#28

Girl I Go To Uni With Always Edits Her Photos Like This.. The Second Pic Is How She Actually Looks

Girl I Go To Uni With Always Edits Her Photos Like This.. The Second Pic Is How She Actually Looks

BigBootyBianca Report

#30

Her Index Finger Seems To Be Melting Down Her Bum

Her Index Finger Seems To Be Melting Down Her Bum

SunnyAmerican Report

#31

Her Gravitational Pull Is So Strong It Distorts Everything Around Her Waist

Her Gravitational Pull Is So Strong It Distorts Everything Around Her Waist

samiam130 Report

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

this whole page could just have a picture of Thanos after he gets the reality stone with caption now reality can be whatever i want

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#32

Two Of Her Fingers Are Thicker Than Her Wrist, Wtf

Two Of Her Fingers Are Thicker Than Her Wrist, Wtf

MelanieSenpai Report

#33

Repeat Offender. This Girl Has No Shame

Repeat Offender. This Girl Has No Shame

ieattoomuchnutella Report

#34

Even The Poor Headless Mannequin Can't Live Up To Ig Standards

Even The Poor Headless Mannequin Can't Live Up To Ig Standards

_queefer_sutherland_ Report

#35

When The Very Thing You Rely On Betrays You Lol

When The Very Thing You Rely On Betrays You Lol

Fvcknloner Report

#37

The Face!!! And This Was A Sponsored Post

The Face!!! And This Was A Sponsored Post

thehappilydepressed Report

#39

The Coveted Thigh Gap

The Coveted Thigh Gap

flashbackarrestor Report

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

Or physics. I'm no physicist, but even I know particles aren't solid from one perspective and gaseous from another.

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

Screw a thigh gap! If it weren't for my thunder thighs, my phone would have ended up in the toilet idk how many times! I'm proud of my thighs and everyone should be proud of what they have as well

sinkvenice_1 avatar
Sinkvenice
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a thigh gap, quite a prominent one. I'm very skinny as I've been really ill my whole life and I try very hard but really struggle to gain weight, even with the help of doctors and nutritionists. You said everyone should be proud of what they have but your comment opener was "Screw a thigh gap!" Do you mean everyone should be proud, except those people with thigh gaps?

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

That's quite the description! I guess I have the mullet of lower bodies then. I don't know whether to be utterly ashamed or to totally embrace it. That's a great profile name by the way.

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

Listen..as a woman and a lesbian I feel like I can say this..ladies no man or woman cares about your thigh gap. They/we don’t care if your thighs rub together so hard when you walk it causes smoke to roll off them. You’re fine the way you are. Perfect even. 🙂

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

I do have a gap at my "correct" weight. It definitely doesn't look natural, much less attractive.

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

Oh .. Ok.. Oh I have that ( bends to look ) and I am no skinny minny or even idealistic curvy lovely.

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

I don't get the obsession with thigh gap. I have never, not even during my scrawny years, have had thigh gap.

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

Oh hey. Interesting to see one of my own pics here! This wasn't done as a serious thing guys and Laura Lee is correct, I was standing feet apart with my lower half tilted back and those briefs are tight as hell which creates a gap. I don't have one when my legs are together. This was just me editing my hallway out (badly) and tracing around my body (badly) to make a mock up of those Cheesecake Pin Up drawings. For those asking about pointy thighs, my thighs bulge that way because I lost 90lbs and it's the remaining loose skin and pockets of fat. You can see it by my armpit as well

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

She's a curvy woman. The thigh gap doesn't look right. She looks fine without it.

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

I could be a skeleton and my thighs would still cling to each other for dear life.

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

Why would anyone edit a fake thigh gap? I mean, it is more comfortable because there is no friction, but it is irrelevant looks-wise.

itsjustme223 avatar
Shane S
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Virtual footbinding. The size they are aspiring to is not natural.

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laura lee
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She can have upper thigh "gap" like that. Legs are apart, bottoms are tight so it lifts the fat, then hangs in a weird sag midway bc lack of muscle. Plus she's standing leaning forward, thrusting her butt out behind her. Chubby girl tricks

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

I agree. I'm not fully convinced the front photo was photoshopped.

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Frank C
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

I will say again, I am so glad I grew up in the 70's. I was actually fine with myself. Social media just needs to go away. Everyone's head would explode but, I'm fine with that.

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

Why though? Her curves are beautiful!!! She reminds me of a real pinup girl from the 50s! Thigh gaps aren't cute. I'm a petite woman. 8 work out but not a lot. I take okay care of myself. But I'm pretty small. I don't have a thigh gap.. I weight less than 120 lbs... I'm just over 5ft 4in.... I couldn't have a thigh gap unless I just stopped eating altogether. That shits not normal

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

If you're gonna be body positive, you can't turn around and do this s**t. You're just making things worse.

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Bsully3
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

sinkvenice_1 avatar
Sinkvenice
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a really wide thigh gap. I'm 35 and I weigh 7 stone because I've been incredibly ill my whole life. I've always hated how I look because people like you say things like this. For some reason body positivity only applies to overweight women. Well what about underweight women? Women who are so ill that no matter how hard they try under the guidance of more than one nutritionist, fail to gain weight. So thank you. Thank you for helping to make me feel disgusting, unattractive and totally undesirable.

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#40

And She Would Have Gotten Away With It Too, If It Weren’t For Those Meddling Straps!

And She Would Have Gotten Away With It Too, If It Weren’t For Those Meddling Straps!

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I like cats
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Srsly...You don't need to change your body to be truly appealing.

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#41

Subtle.... Her Poor Nose

Subtle.... Her Poor Nose

randomthemoron Report

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#42

I Honestly Don’t Know Where To Start

I Honestly Don’t Know Where To Start

stfx2012 Report

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

The background has the telltale stretch marks of Google Street View. Nice.

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#44

Reality TV Influencer Edits Her Photos To Change Her Skin Colour

Reality TV Influencer Edits Her Photos To Change Her Skin Colour

Secure_Yoghurt Report

#45

Famous Youtube Prankster Editing Girls’ Bodies In Video Previews. Lost Some Respect For Him For Perpetuating Those Harmful Standards

Famous Youtube Prankster Editing Girls’ Bodies In Video Previews. Lost Some Respect For Him For Perpetuating Those Harmful Standards

old.reddit.com Report

#46

Core So Strong It Bends Everything Around It

Core So Strong It Bends Everything Around It

TacoSlut4Life Report

#47

So Much Brightness

So Much Brightness

DaisyDandelion Report

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

Wham! Looking happy because they had yet to give their love away at Christmas.

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#48

Found One In The Wild, Totally Natural Looking Face

Found One In The Wild, Totally Natural Looking Face

maginedrragon Report

#49

Online Shopping And.. I Literally Have No Idea What’s Happening Here

Online Shopping And.. I Literally Have No Idea What’s Happening Here

Speecyspicypotato Report

#50

Seen In Strasbourg. Influencer Pretends To Use A Selfie Stick As Entourage Shoots. They Were There For At Least 30 Minutes. Best Was Seeing Her Smoke After In A Winter Coat ‘Cuz It Was Chilly Af

Seen In Strasbourg. Influencer Pretends To Use A Selfie Stick As Entourage Shoots. They Were There For At Least 30 Minutes. Best Was Seeing Her Smoke After In A Winter Coat ‘Cuz It Was Chilly Af

notfortumblr Report

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

Somebody had their picture taken, then had a cigarette. The rest of this story shall remain a mystery evermore.

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