Most of us are probably guilty of polishing our social media accounts. But some don't stop there. They go above and beyond in Photoshop, inventing a totally new version of themselves. However, they aren't fooling everyone—the subreddit r/Instagramreality is dedicated to exposing these fakes, and allow us to see their true colors. With nearly 950K members, the community constantly posts new findings that simply look too bad to be true. If you're done scrolling and wish to check out more similar pics, fire up our earlier Instagram vs. Reality posts here and here.
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What She Lacks In Calves She Makes Up In Shoe Size
How can you look at this picture and think: 'Perfect, my legs look beautiful!' I think she is seriously ill. This is dangerous..
In an earlier interview, the head moderator of the r/Instagramreality subreddit, Zaza9000, told Bored Panda that 2020 was "hard on all of us," so they try to keep the community easy to engage with and be a part of. This openness is one of the reasons why the subreddit is so popular. "Last year so many people have shared interesting stories from their personal lives and I really hope we can carry that into 2021."
According to the head moderator, there have been some shifts in how people approach editing their content. Recently, there's been more interest in video editing than photo editing, for instance. "Especially apps like Facetune2 and SNOW that allows you to edit your body and certain Instagram filters that can make your lips appear bigger and make your skin unrealistically perfect. Seeing them glitch in videos has been a really popular topic on the sub," they explained.
Econ 101
We’ve Got Another Member Of The Pea-Head Squad. His Head Compared To His Hands...i Can’t
Nuno Albuquerque, the Head of Treatment for the UK Addiction Treatment Group, told Bored Panda that social media addiction is a relatively new phenomenon that everyone is still learning about every single day.
"A person can be addicted to anything, but they are only suffering an addiction if whatever it is they are 'using' has taken over their lives, and that they as individuals have lost the power of choice, i.e. that they cannot, regardless of how much they want to, stop 'using'. This is the effect that addiction has, it robs the individual of the ability to stop. Even if that individual is aware of the negative physical, psychological, or financial consequences, they still cannot stop. It is essential to not use the word 'addiction' flippantly; if a person is addicted, then they are in need of professional help and support."
Photographer’s Page vs. Model’s Page
Why? Just why?! She is already beautiful and has the body of a dancer, but with buttocks and thighs as atrophied as they appear in the modified picture, she would have trouble walking. Madness.
When Blurring Your Wrinkles, Don't Forget To Blur Your Reflection Too...
Whitest Teeth In The West
According to Albuquerque, the Covid-19 lockdowns are helping the situation either; they're making us spend more time on social media but we should be aware of how much its use affects us.
"We would say that it is more than likely that society as a whole spent more time on social media and other Internet-based platforms during the Covid-19 lockdowns than before, simply because for many, their normal day to day life was turned upside down, or even stopped altogether, and so a lot of people found they had more spare time on their hands. Some people turned to social media during the lockdown to stay connected with others, which is really important and actually a healthy approach to take. Where it starts to negatively affect a person is when being on social media consumes them completely, and they no longer want to be present in their actual 'offline' day."
Someone Needs To Come Take Their Moms Phone (In The Comments She Swears She Didn't Edit)
Skin Texture, We All Have It
This Sri Lankan Influencer Photoshoped African Elephants To Her Photo. There Are Only Asian Elephants In Sl. All The Elephants Are Photoshoped
The influencer didn't know the difference and most of the viewers also don't know.
So where does the line between a regular social media user and somebody who is addicted to it lies? Albuquerque thinks it's different for each individual, so it's important to recognize whether or not the person has lost the power of choice.
"If the person cannot undertake their regular day to day routine without being on social media or needing to get back to being on social media, as in they have potentially developed not only a psychological desire to be online but also physical urges begin as well, then there could well be an addiction there," he said.
Those Proportions Though
By saying this, you’re just giving this weird person the reaction she would kill for. Your validating her entire reason for doing this. Never give them that satisfaction.
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At what point did she think she looked good in this? She looks bloody terrible.
Yes, I guess we've reached the age where internal organs are no longer sexy?
Yall should be much nicer to her... cause those onset cancer or elephantiasis I think it was called typically dont stick around for a while Also possible with several spaced out surgery... if this was real and was surgery she would drown in a hilarious way struggling to keep her head up with her ass floating
Oh please, she’s trying to fake her body type, and is getting called out on her śhït!!!
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Why???? Do women really think this is beautiful and is their self esteem that low? Sad
Is this some kind of art style, like Egyptian wall art or medieval cats? Cos she can't seriously think that a) people will believe she looks like this and b) that it looks attractive?
I really hope this was an intentional joke. As an unintentional joke it would be too sad.
One of these things is not like the other...which one is photoshopped - waist or thighs?
There is an actual mental illness name for the brain that looks at this and says "damn I look fabulous"
Even if it was real, in another universe, who thinks this is beautiful????
If she did the splits, she could replace the Forth Bridge.
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Why does she think it looks good? No one else does...it's abnormal...I don't get it...
Why can't people just be happy with thenselves, they'd rather look this dumb and rediculous for the world to see? Go to the gym and work out if you want a better body.
From the waist up, she's a woman. From the waist down, she's my grandpa.
from the waist up she's a skeleton with skin from my nightmares, from the waist down she's a normal person
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ngl, this is the body type i use for the characters i draw. heres a sample bish-what-...fa-png.jpg 
And what hand malformation does she have? Call the doctor right now. It’s urgent.
ok no one can get away with a photo shopped pic like that.
Is there a name for the disease this poor woman suffers from? The enormously sized butt, the waist that prohibits internal organs, ... she must be on some kind of heart-lung-machine, dialysis, ... and many, many more devices, drugs, procedures ... to remain alive ... poor woman. I think we all should be inspired by her for that she, although suffering such a fate, still is able to smile. I couldn't do anything but crying, were I the victim of this disease. I guess a surgery may be done, placing her own kidneys where donated ones go, or a little deeper, and inside this oversized butt, there is plenty of room for a liver or a pankreas or whatever she is missing at the usual place. Cannot be there, we all see it can't... Poor woman. Poor strong woman. I'd be embarrassed by the looks of it alone, but she is a ... a fitah, know'ya, she fites da deeceeze wi'al'o'er Pauer!
Every Post Is This Weird Forced Laugh Pose And Soullessly White Eyes
Pants For Stick People
When Your Eyes Are So Piercing, They Burn Holes In Your Hair
i mean this one isn't THAT bad compared to the others, but is this going to be in my nightmares? yea it is
Albuquerque said an unhealthy relationship with social media could also be recognized if the individual develops mental health illness from being online, for example, feelings of anxiety or depression arising during or after being on social media.
"Similarly, for some people we have treated at our UK Addiction Treatment Centres, being on social media is a trigger for them to then misuse drugs or alcohol. During therapy, we address why a person drinks alcohol or misuses drugs, and for some, it is because of their unhealthy relationship with social media," the UKAT Group Head of Treatment explained.
The Caption Says It’s Not Photoshop, But... How?
First Time I’ve Ever Seen Someone Photoshop Their Fridge
I Don't Even Know Where To Begin. With The Ass? Or The Clipart Wine Glass?
I Don’t Know Where To Start
Guys, I’m Scared
Someone Photographed A Chinese Celebrity And Showed What She Truly Looks Like Without Photoshop
On the right she just looks like a cute, slightly tired, normal-haired woman with the body of a human, not a pencil. Why would they photoshop it so bad...
No Cuticles, No Pores, No Texture
Same Girl All Photos
Last time I followed the link and learned this influencer uses the filter that makes you look like a kid again. No biggie, except she then posts pics in lingerie or sexy poses...with a child’s face, some on her Only Fans page 🤮
1.2 Million Followers Btw
Why would people change their bodies like this? Everyone is perfect just the way they are.
I Physically Recoiled When I Saw The Eyes
Chinese Online Shopping Mall. Yeag Chinese Are Crazy For Being Tall And Long Legs. No Need To Explain More
Badly Editing Yourself Into Famous Locations Is Easily One Of My Most Hated Igr Trends
Shooped So Hard That It Looked Like They Cant Even Move A Face Muscle
What In Tarnation Is This???
She Doesnt Have Nose
No Actual Trees Were Harmed Will Creating That Tiny Waist
When Your Friend Only Gets Half Face-Tuned
Aliexpress Never Change Please
I Can't Believe She Thought This Was Fine To Post! Her Face Is So Edited It Looks Like A Drawing
This Fast Fashion Model Getting A Little Overzealous With The Airbrush Feature. Skin Texture Who?
Aliexpress Never Disappoints
She Wants No Skin Texture On Her Face But I Guess Veins Are Where It’s At? Also Do Her Hands Drag On The Ground When She Walks?
What Are Organs?
Instagram Picture Versus Screenshot From A Video
She Literally Photoshopped Herself On Someone’s Car And Didn’t Even Tag Him
So Natural
He looks like an optical illusion picture which says "What do you see first will tell you personality "
Tf Is Wrong With Her Fingers
Claims Legs Are Naturally This Long... They Aren’t
Not Only Girls Edit. ( Found In The Wilderness Of Reddit)
I Am So Confused
That Face
She And Her Friend Showed Their Natural Selves In A Tiktok Video And Everyone Is Praising Them For Being Real But Her All Her Instagram Posts Still Look Like This...
It’s Just Too Much
How They Look On Social Media vs. TV
She Is Gorgeous, But Ma’am, Where Are Your Organs?? Uncanny Valley
Just Saw This On Instagram Under A Fashion Hashtag..
Don't Be Fooled Into Comparing Yourself To Images Of Celebrities!
Second Comment Says "When You Say Total Natural, You Mean The Scenery Behind You?"
Love This Lady
Edited/Unedited
Hmmm I Don't Remember Skin Looking Like That
The only people who want her are from the alien planet she escaped from.
Busted: Uber Public Freakout Edition!
Found This Gem On Instagram. She Looks Like A Real Life Doll!
Phone Reflection Says That Them Hips Do Lie
She Literally Shopped A Tattoo And A Whole Dress On Herself
What She Posts vs. What She’s Tagged In
She's a very pretty person naturally I hate that people feel the need to alter their photos :(
What’s Skin Texture Again??
This Is Possibly The Biggest Elbow I Have Ever Seen
Pinhead
Cut Glass With That Shipped Jaw
I’ve Seen Sandwiches Wider Than Her Waist
I Can’t Tell What, If Anything, Is Even Real In This Picture
These Alien-Like Distortions From A Popular Chinese Influenced Make Me Very Uncomfortable
When You Facetune So Much That Your Chin Disappears...
Youtube Video vs. Instagram
This Lady Without Knees On The Shein Website...
Are You Kidding He Looks Nothing Like This
British Celebrity. This Is Khloe Levels Of Absurd
This Is The Same Person. I Still Cannot Believe, People Want To Alienate Themselves Like This. Holy Mother Of God.
This Is Fine...everything Is Fine...
Power Shoulders Are Back In Style?
Her shoulders aren't the only things photoshopped here... I think she needs to go to the hospital. How is she standing on those legs?
She Really Tried To Fool Her 1 Million Followers That She Actually Looks Like This
Why Is This A Fashion Trend
I was scrolling slowly and was like , "Hmm this looks fine" and then I get to the rest of her body and im like, "Oh s**t no""
Aliexpress Is A Gold Mine
"Only Minimal Editing" - Yeah, Right
A Famous Blogger From My Country. This Is Gold
"Body Positivity"
She’s 53, Sure A Wrinkle Or A Pore Should Be Acceptable?
The Starbuck Cup Does It For Me
Found This Today
Hiring Fake Paparazzi To Publish Photos Where Her Body Is Edited
Edited (Right) To Original (Left). Subtle But Crazy Differences
She Even Went As Far As To Edit Her Pupil Shape And Size In The Left Photo. Literally Doesn't Even Look Like The Same Girl. She's Naturally Gorgeous, She Didn't Need Any Of That.
Honestly, posts like this really make me more sad than anything else. There's something really broken in our society when so many people are so insecure with how they look. I can't imagine feeling like I need to cover my face with pigmented fat just to go out in the world and be acceptable to myself.
Same Girl, Different Face X
I Had To Double Take
Her Body Looks Different In Every Picture
Notice Anything Weird?
While many of these are funny or just ridiculous, it makes me wonder how many of these people suffer from Body Dysmorphia.
Body dysmorphia is a real thing, a very serious thing, but it is too often used as a cynical way to underestimate the pain of living which ugly people feel because of the way society treats them and forces them into perpetual shame and loneliness.
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I've always wondered why people want to look plastic. I mean, at some point they'll be exposed, or will meet someone who has seen the photos and who will be like, 'owait, that's not really how you look.' Then I realised that some of these fakers have made a lot of money from looking plastic. So there are people out there who enjoy looking at heavily edited photos. Makes me wonder which lot - the posers or the viewers - are the saddest.
"B" I agree with you. I wounder how in the world some of these pictures can be perceived by their creators as faltering. The extent of the distortion is beyond tangible comprehension. It leaves me gobsmacked!
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Just about all of them would look great without all the editing. It’s scary and sad that they feel the need to do this.
At the very least, I don’t think any of them could look WORSE than the edited version.
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Moral of the post: you are not a Barbie doll. Do not make yourself into a Barbie doll
This is so sad. Why do we continue to believe these obnoxious "beauty" standards ....
Because the media is a multi trillion dollar behemoth. And these girls and women are doing their individual best in the face of it.
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It's sad how many people feel as though their true selves are not enough.
Why do people do this? I have recently done an assignment on social media, and this was one of the main (bad) reasons about social media and social media apps. Imagine being these people who really looked nice in real life...but make a fake image online. Please don't do this! You are beautiful just the way you are! And if you do post photos of the real you....good job! 💕
My 10 year old neighbor asked me why these platforms don't tag all these photos with some text that they are Photoshopped or what filters were used. She said they tag articles or opinion pieces with warnings that it's not "factual" or outright remove and ban people so why aren't these apparently emotionally ill people treated in a way that frowns upon all this because it's harmful or "people are lying and need help" Out of the mouth of babes...
If magazines adverts for mascaras now have to tell you when the eyelashes are photoshopped then I hope it's only a matter of time, but I'm not sure how it can even be monitored.
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we shame plastic surgery and editing so witch one do you want because if people aren't getting plastic surgery there gonna edit if they can't edit there gonna get plastic surgery come on
No offense, but the one that isn’t photoshopped looks so much better. 📷
I think there is probably a lot of body dysmorphia at play here. I think these people are victims. I think we have had tv adverts and magazines doing this for years to profit from from people feeling inadequate. We need photo shop bans for beauty products.
It's really sad that people are so insecure that they think they have to change the way they look.
It’s really sad that women are put under such scrutiny by society.
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Because there are so many bitchy judgmental people on the internet. This thread being a case in point.
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I feel like most of the people here would genuinely be good looking with out all the editing the pics.
See they never get caught cus they look like completely different people :/
Too many people are using Photoshop without having the skill to make something at least convincing at first glance.
A lot of these are so out there, that I don't understand how anyone can look at these pictures, think "oh great!" and post these. But even if they could somehow do that, what saying to people (or themselves)? That they're not beautiful enough show themselves without completely changing what they look like? That others should try to look like a heavily edited version of reality? I can't really say I blame the people on the pics - they are just a reflection of the society they - and we - live in. I think all of us, particularly parents and educators, need to ask ourselves what we can do to stop this.... Rant over!
Just be yourself. All of these people are wonderful and beautiful. No need for photoshop. 👍
I tried turning on a 'beauty' filter once....it suggested a paper bag over my head might help
A lot of Instagrammers need to get some professional psychological help. Or just die, that would even be better! ;-)
Instead of shaming them, why don't people shame the social standards which make them insecure ?
What's the point of these? Why don't people just post a drawing instead.
Well, I for one, am glad this article featured men AND women. Too many of these "look at the freak show" articles feature women exclusively and it seems rather sexist. So bravo on the male inclusion.
A couple of men. But they’re just there to avoid the accusation of sexism.
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I wonder if some of these people started with only slightly distorted pictures, then got more distorted over time. "See how much skinnier I'm am?"
I'm starting to think all the nightmares I had as a child were really scary premonitions for the modern digital world.
Some dude once photoshopped his head onto one of my underwear photos from a shoot 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Everybody is beautiful just as they are. Makeup and styling fine. But if you have to photoshop yourself to what you think beautiful is then youve been given the wrong body image. Quite trying to look like the kardashians. Thats not beauty. Theyve had tons of plastic surgery professional makeup artists and stylist. Even chrissy tiegan looks were too much but since having her children shes finally starting to let her true self show. If somebody doesnt like the true you they are the problem. Got enough grief from my mim about wearing makeup out because her friends might see me. She finally git the hint after many years that if they dont like the way i look without makeup then they dont like the true me. Be yourself and quit letting a software decide what looks beautiful because its looks horribly fake and can see all the editing youve done.
Do not forget you are discussing real people in these comments, in front of the world. In many of them, faces are visible and recognisable, some of them will be BP readers, none of them gave consent. Check yourselves.
Sorry Si, if you put your garbage on social media it is fair game in the court of public opinion as evidence.
Load More Replies... Anyone living in reality? Plastic surgery actually corrects and changes your face or body, not like some toy or game on Instagram where you can just lie about how you look.
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No it's meant to be bad quality Photoshop, as in obviously fake
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You’re the weird one trying to “flame” people for this. You’re probably 40+ talking like that. Yes these people are wrong but still, get a life.
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The title I can see says there's only 40 pictures?
Load More Replies... While many of these are funny or just ridiculous, it makes me wonder how many of these people suffer from Body Dysmorphia.
Body dysmorphia is a real thing, a very serious thing, but it is too often used as a cynical way to underestimate the pain of living which ugly people feel because of the way society treats them and forces them into perpetual shame and loneliness.
Load More Replies... I've always wondered why people want to look plastic. I mean, at some point they'll be exposed, or will meet someone who has seen the photos and who will be like, 'owait, that's not really how you look.' Then I realised that some of these fakers have made a lot of money from looking plastic. So there are people out there who enjoy looking at heavily edited photos. Makes me wonder which lot - the posers or the viewers - are the saddest.
"B" I agree with you. I wounder how in the world some of these pictures can be perceived by their creators as faltering. The extent of the distortion is beyond tangible comprehension. It leaves me gobsmacked!
Load More Replies... Just about all of them would look great without all the editing. It’s scary and sad that they feel the need to do this.
At the very least, I don’t think any of them could look WORSE than the edited version.
Load More Replies... Moral of the post: you are not a Barbie doll. Do not make yourself into a Barbie doll
This is so sad. Why do we continue to believe these obnoxious "beauty" standards ....
Because the media is a multi trillion dollar behemoth. And these girls and women are doing their individual best in the face of it.
Load More Replies... It's sad how many people feel as though their true selves are not enough.
Why do people do this? I have recently done an assignment on social media, and this was one of the main (bad) reasons about social media and social media apps. Imagine being these people who really looked nice in real life...but make a fake image online. Please don't do this! You are beautiful just the way you are! And if you do post photos of the real you....good job! 💕
My 10 year old neighbor asked me why these platforms don't tag all these photos with some text that they are Photoshopped or what filters were used. She said they tag articles or opinion pieces with warnings that it's not "factual" or outright remove and ban people so why aren't these apparently emotionally ill people treated in a way that frowns upon all this because it's harmful or "people are lying and need help" Out of the mouth of babes...
If magazines adverts for mascaras now have to tell you when the eyelashes are photoshopped then I hope it's only a matter of time, but I'm not sure how it can even be monitored.
Load More Replies... we shame plastic surgery and editing so witch one do you want because if people aren't getting plastic surgery there gonna edit if they can't edit there gonna get plastic surgery come on
No offense, but the one that isn’t photoshopped looks so much better. 📷
I think there is probably a lot of body dysmorphia at play here. I think these people are victims. I think we have had tv adverts and magazines doing this for years to profit from from people feeling inadequate. We need photo shop bans for beauty products.
It's really sad that people are so insecure that they think they have to change the way they look.
It’s really sad that women are put under such scrutiny by society.
Load More Replies... Because there are so many bitchy judgmental people on the internet. This thread being a case in point.
Load More Replies... I feel like most of the people here would genuinely be good looking with out all the editing the pics.
See they never get caught cus they look like completely different people :/
Too many people are using Photoshop without having the skill to make something at least convincing at first glance.
A lot of these are so out there, that I don't understand how anyone can look at these pictures, think "oh great!" and post these. But even if they could somehow do that, what saying to people (or themselves)? That they're not beautiful enough show themselves without completely changing what they look like? That others should try to look like a heavily edited version of reality? I can't really say I blame the people on the pics - they are just a reflection of the society they - and we - live in. I think all of us, particularly parents and educators, need to ask ourselves what we can do to stop this.... Rant over!
Just be yourself. All of these people are wonderful and beautiful. No need for photoshop. 👍
I tried turning on a 'beauty' filter once....it suggested a paper bag over my head might help
A lot of Instagrammers need to get some professional psychological help. Or just die, that would even be better! ;-)
Instead of shaming them, why don't people shame the social standards which make them insecure ?
What's the point of these? Why don't people just post a drawing instead.
Well, I for one, am glad this article featured men AND women. Too many of these "look at the freak show" articles feature women exclusively and it seems rather sexist. So bravo on the male inclusion.
A couple of men. But they’re just there to avoid the accusation of sexism.
Load More Replies... I wonder if some of these people started with only slightly distorted pictures, then got more distorted over time. "See how much skinnier I'm am?"
I'm starting to think all the nightmares I had as a child were really scary premonitions for the modern digital world.
Some dude once photoshopped his head onto one of my underwear photos from a shoot 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Everybody is beautiful just as they are. Makeup and styling fine. But if you have to photoshop yourself to what you think beautiful is then youve been given the wrong body image. Quite trying to look like the kardashians. Thats not beauty. Theyve had tons of plastic surgery professional makeup artists and stylist. Even chrissy tiegan looks were too much but since having her children shes finally starting to let her true self show. If somebody doesnt like the true you they are the problem. Got enough grief from my mim about wearing makeup out because her friends might see me. She finally git the hint after many years that if they dont like the way i look without makeup then they dont like the true me. Be yourself and quit letting a software decide what looks beautiful because its looks horribly fake and can see all the editing youve done.
Do not forget you are discussing real people in these comments, in front of the world. In many of them, faces are visible and recognisable, some of them will be BP readers, none of them gave consent. Check yourselves.
Sorry Si, if you put your garbage on social media it is fair game in the court of public opinion as evidence.
Load More Replies... Anyone living in reality? Plastic surgery actually corrects and changes your face or body, not like some toy or game on Instagram where you can just lie about how you look.
Load More Replies... No it's meant to be bad quality Photoshop, as in obviously fake
Load More Replies... You’re the weird one trying to “flame” people for this. You’re probably 40+ talking like that. Yes these people are wrong but still, get a life.
Load More Replies... The title I can see says there's only 40 pictures?
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