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Welcome to the world of filters where looks are everything, and everything else is nothing. While there are many exceptions, social media is still notorious for breeding and celebrating vanity, from boosting your ego to making others (and yourself included) feel miserable.

But sometimes it’s too much even for Instagram. You see, some people airbrush and edit their pictures beyond the acceptable norm and the result is, well, reality-bending. The subreddit “Instagram Reality” is calling out those instances by sharing pictures of influencers taking editing a step, or rather a mile, too far.

Below we selected some of the most recent posts from the community, so pull your seat closer. And after you’re done, be sure to check out our previous features on Instagram vs reality here, here and here.

#2

Why Would Someone Do This? The Original Is Stunning Already

Why Would Someone Do This? The Original Is Stunning Already

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#3

Not Even Judas Was As Treacherous As That Mirror….

Not Even Judas Was As Treacherous As That Mirror….

Not_newbie_994 Report

In order to understand social media, and the influencers that go above and beyond to stand out, build their audience and establish their brand, we have to look at the other culture that paved the way to influencers as we know them today. And it’s celebrity culture. Both share the insatiable hunger for an idealized image, but also the need to deliver substance and make it interesting for the viewers.

So Bored Panda reached out to Claire Sisco King, the Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Vanderbilt University who happily shared some very interesting insights into the over-the-top world of celebrities and influencers.

#4

I Forgot What She Really Looked Like

I Forgot What She Really Looked Like

chair909 Report

#6

She’s The Best. These Are All Photos She Posted Herself Either On Her Story Or Ig Feed! She’s Beautiful, Confident And Silly

She’s The Best. These Are All Photos She Posted Herself Either On Her Story Or Ig Feed! She’s Beautiful, Confident And Silly

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“Celebrity culture has been a significant part of popular media in the United States since the early 20th century. Its origins can be traced in large part to the Hollywood star system,” King told us. “By the 1920s, film studios had developed a system for crafting star images—from the stars’ names to how they dressed to the types of film roles they played. Studios relied on their own promotional departments as well as fan magazines to create these images and make them familiar to audiences, promoting fan attachment to the stars,” she explained.

#7

Don’t Be Afraid To Age Folks

Don’t Be Afraid To Age Folks

EMERlTUS Report

#8

The Power Of Filters - It Doesn’t Always Have To Be That Noticeable

The Power Of Filters - It Doesn’t Always Have To Be That Noticeable

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

Ohh wow!! I would have believed #2 and #3 to also be the real picture.

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It turns out that for decades, “most of this publicity remained largely positive because it was heavily controlled by the film studios, offering highly calculated views of celebrities’ personalities and private lives.”

But all changed with the advent of tabloids by the mid-twentieth century, including radio shows and magazines, King said. That’s when the attention to gossip and the more salacious aspects of celebrities’ personal lives increased. “Often this coverage was out of celebrity control; but, at the same time, celebrity has become dependent on the gossip industry because it drives audience interest and fascination,” the professor said.

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#11

Shame On The News Outlet Who Photoshopped The Left Picture

Shame On The News Outlet Who Photoshopped The Left Picture

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

come on, the marks from the goggles are the best part though. you know they worked hard

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#12

Found This One While Browsing A Dating App

Found This One While Browsing A Dating App

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Thanks to reality television and the internet, in the beginning of the early 2000s, expectations about access to celebrities dramatically increased. King explained: “Reality television fostered the idea that anyone could become famous by ‘playing themselves,’ and there was the corollary expectation that celebrities should engage with the genre to give audiences an idea of who they ‘really are.’”

#13

His Jawline Is Definitely 100% Real, No Editing

His Jawline Is Definitely 100% Real, No Editing

TogderNodger Report

#14

Imagine Your Surprise When You See Her For The First Time Without All That Makeup, Filters And Editing

Imagine Your Surprise When You See Her For The First Time Without All That Makeup, Filters And Editing

Maybeimthebot Report

Meanwhile, “the development of digital media and the internet meant that there were endless opportunities for audiences to seek information about celebrities, which meant that media companies also felt obligations to generate more and more content about them.” King argues that the era saw the proliferation of websites and blogs devoted to celebrity fandom and/or gossip.

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#16

At First The Terrifying Bird Feet Got Me But The Longer You Stare...the Worse It Gets

At First The Terrifying Bird Feet Got Me But The Longer You Stare...the Worse It Gets

young_erik Report

#18

How Is This Even Legal?

How Is This Even Legal?

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The development of social media really amplified all of these expectations about access to and intimacy with celebrities. “Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat give audiences the sense that they can see into celebrities’ private lives and get 'behind the scenes' access to them. Even though the glimpses audiences see are highly curated and carefully crafted, they suggest that fans can get an 'authentic' idea of who celebrities are,” King explained.

#19

Same Day. Insta vs. Pap Picture

Same Day. Insta vs. Pap Picture

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

In all seriousness, do people really think those lips are pretty? Or desirable? I find them disgusting and I really, really wouldn't want to kiss her or anyone with lips like that, even if they were the god of orgasmic kissing or whatever. Or the last person on earth. EDIT: i was referring to filler lips, not natural lips. Natural lips are sexy. Filler lips, when you can clearly see that they do not belong on a face, are not. Sorry if anyone felt offended, I was referring strictly to the lips in the picture, filler lips.

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#21

When You Have A Friend Who Edits The Whole Group

When You Have A Friend Who Edits The Whole Group

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#22

Is It Just Me Or Does His Head Look Way Too Small?

Is It Just Me Or Does His Head Look Way Too Small?

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#23

She Got Called Out For Using Heavy Filters And Her Response Was Interesting

She Got Called Out For Using Heavy Filters And Her Response Was Interesting

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

I agree with her. And it's a trend going on showing how you look with filters vs without.

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#24

She Adamantly Denies Filtering Her Pics On Every Post

She Adamantly Denies Filtering Her Pics On Every Post

Hamily_Anal Report

#25

She Uses The Teen Filter So Much, She Has Convinced Herself That She Looks Like This

She Uses The Teen Filter So Much, She Has Convinced Herself That She Looks Like This

thereallilcya Report

#26

Found This One! — He Claims To Be 31 Years Old, Flashes Fake Watches And Cars He Doesn’t Own

Found This One! — He Claims To Be 31 Years Old, Flashes Fake Watches And Cars He Doesn’t Own

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

If he's 31 then I must be 11...damn teenage life crisis approaching..am damned

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#27

Posted As Part Of A Massive Clothing Campaign…how Could Such A Big Label Not Have Enough Money For Decent Editing? She Has Slender Man Fingers!

Posted As Part Of A Massive Clothing Campaign…how Could Such A Big Label Not Have Enough Money For Decent Editing? She Has Slender Man Fingers!

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#28

She Is 81 Guys ... I Don't Know What To Say

She Is 81 Guys ... I Don't Know What To Say

Homo-Rudolfensis Report

#29

Found In The Wild - When You Forget To Edit Your Husband

Found In The Wild - When You Forget To Edit Your Husband

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#30

Rip Her Poor Hips..must Have Fallen Off In Her Tagged Photo

Rip Her Poor Hips..must Have Fallen Off In Her Tagged Photo

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Llama_flower93
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just so absurd to me, having grown up in a society in which those hips would have been shamed for being fat. Maybe 15 years ago. Now people are purposely trying to look that way. It's all so silly when the trend goes away and another begins. About our bodies! Just accept the body your in, skinny, thick, whatever. Your own body will go in and out of style throughout your lifetime. Stop trying to make it fit a trend.

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#31

I Mean

I Mean

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

Why do people keep having plastic surgery when it just seems to make you look SO. MUCH. WORSE. ?

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#32

Instagram vs. Public Video

Instagram vs. Public Video

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#33

A Local Club Owner.

A Local Club Owner.

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

But the body doesn’t look like a filter, more like bad cosmetic surgery

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#35

Spent Too Much Time On The Faces, Forgot About The Rest

Spent Too Much Time On The Faces, Forgot About The Rest

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

What's going on with the middle arm? Is that a skin condition or a self-tan accident? I don't want to sound mean, I am just confused

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#36

Claims She Doesn’t Want Women To Feel Bad About Their Postpartum Bodies If They Haven’t ‘Bounced Back’ Like Her

Claims She Doesn’t Want Women To Feel Bad About Their Postpartum Bodies If They Haven’t ‘Bounced Back’ Like Her

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

Why though? Her body looks normal in the second picture, even if it wasn't a postpartum body.

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#37

Both Are Instagram Posts

Both Are Instagram Posts

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

This is all so much nightmare fuel.. thx BP.. still cant stop scrolling.. help

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#38

A Woman From The Danish Equivalent To Teen Mom, She's Not A Teen Anymore

A Woman From The Danish Equivalent To Teen Mom, She's Not A Teen Anymore

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#39

She’s Already Petite But They Shrank Her Even More While Forgetting Her Forearms

She’s Already Petite But They Shrank Her Even More While Forgetting Her Forearms

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

Is that her face palming the editing on her own body? They made her look like a child!

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#41

This Gal Is Acting As If We Don’t Know What She Actually Looks Like

This Gal Is Acting As If We Don’t Know What She Actually Looks Like

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

I think the lesson to be learned from this trend is that these people, for whatever reason, feel like they are not ok as they are, and that is very sad and disturbing, as much as it is scary. It, in my opinion at least, is as destructive as an eating disorder. We are all who we are, and we are all important and beautiful and worthy just by being ourselves.

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#43

Maternity Photoshoot vs. Youtube Video 4 Weeks Later

Maternity Photoshoot vs. Youtube Video 4 Weeks Later

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

This so common. Plus in 4 weeks especially when the pregnicay is almost due most women hold much more water and the baby grows alot

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#44

They’re Not Even Trying To Hide It Anymore. She Blurred Her Unedited Reflection

They’re Not Even Trying To Hide It Anymore. She Blurred Her Unedited Reflection

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#45

What She Posts On Ig vs. What The Paparazzi Took

What She Posts On Ig vs. What The Paparazzi Took

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#47

Completely Unrecognizable!

Completely Unrecognizable!

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

I don't think left pic is supposed to be her? If it is it's bad editing. Anyway she looks fine to the right.

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#48

Her Caption Says: ‘I Actually Don’t Have Foundation On, Only Concealer And Everything Else’ But Am I Wrong If I Only See A Heavily Filtered Pic?

Her Caption Says: ‘I Actually Don’t Have Foundation On, Only Concealer And Everything Else’ But Am I Wrong If I Only See A Heavily Filtered Pic?

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#49

Instagram vs. Tagged Photos

Instagram vs. Tagged Photos

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#50

Some Unfiltered/Unedited Photos From The Met Gala Versus Their Ig Equivalents Or Most Recently Posted Photos

Some Unfiltered/Unedited Photos From The Met Gala Versus Their Ig Equivalents Or Most Recently Posted Photos

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

I don't think the woman in the 2nd row photoshopped the picture? I might be being dumb, but it just seems like better lighting to me?

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Note: this post originally had 97 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.