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With social media came the filters and an all-time high insecurity problem. Mostly everyone by now is well informed about the truth hidden behind Instagram pictures, however, that did not make our problems disappear.

A lot of the time influencers have discreet changes in their images, and it is hard to tell whether it is real or not. That is why shedding some light on the issue from time to time serves as an important reminder. Images we see on social media are often highly curated and do not represent reality. Aside from promoting unattainable body image to their followers, influencers who use filters constantly damage their view of their own appearance.

But not only influencers use these beauty filters. In a 2021 study by the City University of London, it was discovered that 90% of women from ages 18-30 use appearance-altering editing programs. Most women feel pressured to look a particular way as well as the need to showcase a ‘perfect life’. This constant obsession with our looks can lead to negative body image and self-esteem issues, and in some cases, may contribute to the development of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

With that being said, fellow Pandas, we want to tell you that you are beautiful just the way you are, and any features you try to hide are the ones that make you unique. Filters will only make you look unrealistic, and in this case, even ridiculous.

To get a better understanding on how filters affect us, Bored Panda got in touch with body-positive social media influencer saggysara. See the full interview with her below.

More info: Instagram | TikTok | Youtube

#1

“That Moment When Your Eyebrow Glitches Through Your Hat”

“That Moment When Your Eyebrow Glitches Through Your Hat”

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#2

“I Never Use Filters” Was In Her Bio…

“I Never Use Filters” Was In Her Bio…

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Javel!
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1 year ago

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#3

I Wonder What The Thought Process, To The Point Of Uploading This Was Like

I Wonder What The Thought Process, To The Point Of Uploading This Was Like

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Since social media has been criticized for presenting a distorted reality, the body-positive movement started to appear as an “antidote”. Body positivity is the idea that all people should have a positive body image, regardless of their size, shape, or appearance. The goal of body positivity is to create a more inclusive and accepting society, where people feel comfortable and confident in their own skin.

Sara Puhto is one of the body-positive influencers that is spreading a message of what a normal body looks like on her Instagram account saggysara. “I post daily reminders to help people see the “reality” behind posed photos, and the curated aspects of photos, and with filters, I have touched on comparison photos to show how different filters alter our natural faces. To help people realize they shouldn’t compare themselves to what they see online,” shared Sara.

#4

Hahaha This Girl Is Funny, She Post About The Reality Of Her Photos And The Difference Is Hilarious

Hahaha This Girl Is Funny, She Post About The Reality Of Her Photos And The Difference Is Hilarious

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Susan Green
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever I see a totally edited photo of someone, next to a natural photo of them, I always prefer the natural pic, because at least they look human.

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#5

I Need To Re-Learn Anatomy After Seeing What Influencers Look Like These Days

I Need To Re-Learn Anatomy After Seeing What Influencers Look Like These Days

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xolitaire
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how she (aside from the slinky anatomy) edited her face to look younger, but forgot to edit her hands and neck/collarbone, which clearly show she is older

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

Poor thing, looks like she broke both of her legs in a horrible way. Somebody call an ambulance!

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

I'm Soooooooo glad I'm not a young person in this MediaCrazed Era.

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

Wow. It's time. Pawpaw needs to tke her out behind the barn and end her misery.

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

The aliens have landed, people, and they've tried to masquerade as human, but failed badly.

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

When you model for the art class and they all get failing grades.

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

Weird legs aside; i really like that room. Looks cozy.

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

Without the fiter she would look great. she ruined her natural beauty!

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

omg! Please tell me this is an AI rendering! In fact- let me show you one I did with AI input - Venus-63c9...5bf7e5.jpg Venus-63c9b285bf7e5.jpg

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Thee8thsense
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Samantha has never quite been the same since her skiing accident.

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

The leg underneath is twisted in multiple different directions

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

I'm trying so hard to figure out where her 'left' leg came from. That's such a wildly different angle that it had to come from another photo entirely? It's so discomforting.

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

I'll revise then, if you please. What if this thot had SEVERAL KNEES?

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

Take the back leg out and it's not actually a bad picture as such, why do they feel the need to overdo it?

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

When U are good looking,and have broken all U’r bones in the leg,U still smile & look Sexy for all U’r Followers👍

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

Legs that go on for miles...miles of bendy, twisty mountain roads.

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

Hands are the ultimate giveaway. You can do all the cosmetic surgery you want and your hands tell the truth your face fibs about

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

I know the legs are freakish, but the boobs look just as unnnatural.

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

Pretty sure her right leg is about 3-4" shorter than the left

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Anne Jones
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1 year ago

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#6

Salutations From Qatar

Salutations From Qatar

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Hippopotamuses
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who could even think for a moment that this is an accurate example of a human being?

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Usage of filters on social media can have long-lasting consequences. When people use or see filtered faces and bodies, they start to accept it as a norm, and because of that, their self-perception changes. There was even seen a rise in plastic surgery related to filters. Most of the procedures requested are on the eyes, nose, and lips. “I’ve had a few messages saying that people have wanted plastic surgery to look like filters (eg. lip filler). In all honesty, I have had this thought too around 2 years back during covid where I only really saw filtered faces online but never ended up getting it and had to take a moment to unpack why I felt the need/want to get lip filler and realized it wasn’t something that I personally could justify doing at the time.

I’ve also heard other people say that filters negatively affect their self-esteem as they see the beauty filters as enhancing certain 'in trend' aesthetic aspects that they don’t feel they have naturally,” shared Sara.

“I personally don’t use them on my page and if I do they’re more of the 'silly' ones and with the beauty filters I only use them to show the difference between my natural face and the filter,” added Sara.

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#9

She’s 48

She’s 48

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There has been a lot of discussion about the use of photo filters and editing tools on social media, and the impact they can have on people's body image and self-esteem. Some people have called for more transparency when it comes to the use of filters, similar to how sponsored posts are labeled on social media.

“The ease with which we can use filters and then post that photo as a post and it doesn’t state anywhere that the photo is filtered, I think that increases the unrealistic/unattainable standards that people think they should look like the filtered versions of themselves naturally,” shared Sara.

#10

Popular Tiktoker Who Gets Paid/Sponsored To Review Skincare & Makeup Products

Popular Tiktoker Who Gets Paid/Sponsored To Review Skincare & Makeup Products

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#11

The Absolute Worst Offender

The Absolute Worst Offender

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1 year ago

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To promote positivity on body image, it is important to engage with body-positive accounts on social media, share your own body-positive content and messages, educate yourself about the harmful effects of social media, support body-positive organizations and campaigns, be mindful of the language you use when talking about bodies and appearance, practice self-care, and encourage others to embrace their unique qualities and celebrate their bodies. By taking these steps, you can help to create a more inclusive and accepting society where people of all shapes and sizes feel valued and confident in their own skin.

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“I attempt to ground/remind my followers by showing them reminders of the curation and behind-the-scenes of Instagram photos and to see that at the end of the day, so many things on the human body that we have labeled as ‘flawed’ are actually so normal, they are a part of us, a part of being human and being alive. We shouldn’t feel ashamed of these absolutely normal human aspects,” Sara added.

#13

Gonna Have To Go With No

Gonna Have To Go With No

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#14

Not Much Is Real In Her Pics And Videos Plus The Backround Moves Round In Them, Last Pic Is One She Was Tagged In From A Hairdresser

Not Much Is Real In Her Pics And Videos Plus The Backround Moves Round In Them, Last Pic Is One She Was Tagged In From A Hairdresser

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#15

Instagram vs. Red Carpet Interview

Instagram vs. Red Carpet Interview

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#16

Her Post vs. What She Was Tagged In By The Content Photographer…

Her Post vs. What She Was Tagged In By The Content Photographer…

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#17

I Need Help Bc Why Did She Tell Someone In The Comments The Reason You Can’t See Her Pores Is *good Foundation* When She’s Literally Blurred To Oblivion…

I Need Help Bc Why Did She Tell Someone In The Comments The Reason You Can’t See Her Pores Is *good Foundation* When She’s Literally Blurred To Oblivion…

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#18

I Literally Use This Girls Fitness App

I Literally Use This Girls Fitness App

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#19

62k Likes, 1k Comments On Her "Perfect Body"

62k Likes, 1k Comments On Her "Perfect Body"

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Undercover
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can these unrealistic horse-butts be considered beautiful? I don't get it!

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#20

She Posts Loads Like This

She Posts Loads Like This

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Pheonixvatoreii
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These poor girls. The problem with this is not the girls. Its the fact that they are made to feel the need to photoshop their images by society's expectation of what women look like/should look like. These girls all look just as pretty without the filters, but they are likely insecure enough to feel like they arent. Edit: Hell this blew up. Yes I know these people should take responsibility for their actions. Sure society isng to blame for all. If these girls think they have to do that to get attention, there is something very wrong. Part of if is social pressure, that is undeniable. They aren't forced to do anything, but the problem is that they must feel like they are being.

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#21

Her Ig Post vs. Ig Tagged

Her Ig Post vs. Ig Tagged

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Saggi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But why do these people thing that no one can find out the truth? I mean, they have a life, and if they get famous from this then they are bound to be seen someplace, and people can take pictures that they can’t edit, so what is the reasoning behind that?

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#22

Ms Girl Who Claims She Doesn’t Use Filters

Ms Girl Who Claims She Doesn’t Use Filters

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#24

Looking For Compression Shirts When Suddey…

Looking For Compression Shirts When Suddey…

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#25

Influencer’s Photo Posted On Insta Versus Screenshot From A Video

Influencer’s Photo Posted On Insta Versus Screenshot From A Video

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Javel!
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1 year ago

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#27

She Wants To Look Like A Doll

She Wants To Look Like A Doll

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Susan Green
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Geez what’s wrong with looking normal anymore? If you don’t like the way you look naturally, then don’t post photos of yourself.

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#28

She Claims This Isn’t Shopped, But The Uncanny Valley Vibes Makes Me Think She’s Lying

She Claims This Isn’t Shopped, But The Uncanny Valley Vibes Makes Me Think She’s Lying

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#29

Posted Back To Back. Her Comment Section Is Full Of People Accusing Her Of Black Fishing (And For A Good Reason)

Posted Back To Back. Her Comment Section Is Full Of People Accusing Her Of Black Fishing (And For A Good Reason)

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#30

Damn You Filters!!!

Damn You Filters!!!

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a fruity dream of delusion
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in my opinion she looks better in the unedited one. she actually looks unique instead of just looking like a doll cut-and-paste.

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Note: this post originally had 33 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.