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The online world is full of so much content, some of it ought to be weird. Or cursed, if you will. Yes, you guessed it right, it’s time for some more of the internet's finest disturbing images, this time provided by the Instagram account titled ‘Cursed Images 2009’.

Sharing pictures of bizarre things and happenings since 2016, the account has already amassed a fan base of nearly 82k members. Their collection of posts cover everything from toilet design that can only be called weird to people pretending to be animals, and so much more. Scroll down to find some of their posts and our interview with the founder of the Instagram account, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

The founder of the Instagram account told Bored Panda that their interest in these somewhat bizarre images started back in school. “I had Tumblr when I was in middle school or high school and Tumblr had a lot of ‘cursed images’ or ‘liminal space’ photos. I became super into them.” 

They added that they wanted to bring what they saw on Tumblr to Instagram. “At first, I was mostly posting for just my friends and myself but I started gaining a following over the years over this shared aesthetic.”

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LillieMean
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss the days when a camera flash could easily reveal who was possessed by demons. I am convinced that the digital camera was invented to cover up this revelation.

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“I find these images on Twitter or other mutuals on Instagram,” the creator of the account revealed. “My friends also love sending me cursed images they think I’ll like.”

They said that one of the things they love most about such pictures is how out of context they are most of the time. The curator of the cursed images admitted they like not knowing why or how the photos were taken. “I like the mystery!”

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Spencer's slave
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nanas and Grandmas be like " There's a fingerprint on that window. I won't be a minute".

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Hawkmoon
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8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The perspective makes Eddy look like he's going to have a big headache soon.

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The mastermind behind ‘Cursed Images 2009’ told Bored Panda that in addition to the images they share, the thing they love most about managing the account is interacting with the followers.

“I honestly didn’t expect to get any followers, really, because I made this account for myself and to make my friends laugh. I’m really grateful I’ve built a following and a community,” they added.

When asked what kind of cursed images the founder themselves enjoy the most, they said that it’s basically anything car-related. “There’s so many I find that I think fit my aesthetic,” they pointed out.

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(Un)fortunately, cursed images go beyond the limits of bizarre pictures on Instagram accounts. Some professionals devote their time and effort to creating something so hauntingly appealing that it can only be called cursed, whether it’s pictures, videos, or full-length movies. 

Aperture covered the pictures of one of them—photographer Patricia Voulgaris—who was fascinated with what makes an image cursed. It also suggested that such works often have some sort of a push-pull effect that can be both disturbing and soothing at the same time.

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Agfox
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Spot the dog" or "Three of these things are not like the other"

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Shayne Randlett
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They all dressed the same for Halloween. That dog is actually a golden retriever...

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Gmaddles
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's Cruella when you need her (as I only rescue the actual beautiful dalmation)

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Steph
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The nose should be painted pointing to the ground, it would Look cute then. It‘s the skull-like looking noses that make the picture creepy.

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Lara Elliott
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most disturbing thing about this picture is the upside down noses on the “not dogs”. It makes the noses skeleton-like instead of dog like.

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Gmaddles
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. Bad dogs!! (only the kids though, the real dog is a good doggie! Good boy/girl!! Goood puppy!! Ohhh you want belly rubs!)

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Amanda Lorian
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶 Cruella de Vil, Cruella de Vil, if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will🎶

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Terje Nygård
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great inspiration for my next "Merry Christmas" card to the rest of the family. :)

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Kimbowa
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now Peter always loves to tell the story of that one day…

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Melissa Hammond
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This disturbs me, to no end. This kid, in the foreground, posted up, on his hands and knees, I find particularly disturbing. I dont know why. It's the hair, I think. It's got to be the hair. This poor dog looks like someone who knows their three friends are intoxicated, and acting like fools around him. And he is determined to maintain eyes front, locked on, with full eye contact, with the bartender,'s eyes.Sickly smile in place to signal he is oblivious to the ridiculous shenanigans, taking place all around, and behind him. He is determined to stand right there at the bar, staring straight ahead, so as not to acknowledge he came out for the evening with three capering fools straight out of "The Shining". And wait, for the horrible, nightmarish, charade, to finally, come to an end. And, as he's the designated driver, he will then, finally, be allowed to drive yon capering fools back to the hell, from whence they came.

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BluKatTheBlueCat (BluKat)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

god no these remind me of therians.. [no hate i just think its concerning because they say it isnt a choice]

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David Herz
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only one who looks human seems to be the one in the middle

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T5n
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two of them have the unfortunate pose of “Doggy style”

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Craymoss
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

‘One of these things is not like the other. One of these things is…’

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GES
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh oh ....I hope nobody else sees what I'm seeing.

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But if cursed images are so disturbing, why do this and similar online accounts have so many fans, you might wonder? It’s likely related to the way we are affected by disgust. Even though it is typically evoked by something far from pleasant, researchers suggest that “disgusting stimuli both capture and retain your attention more effectively than emotionally neutral stimuli do”, as reported by Scientific American.

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Psychologist Nina Strohminger pointed out to Scientific American that liking things despite considering them disgusting can be related to a human tendency known as “benign masochism”. It means that people might seek seemingly negative stimuli to enjoy “constrained risks”, for example, riding a roller coaster or eating spicy foods.

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Watching scary movies also falls into the category of things people are fearful of but enjoy nevertheless. CBS carried out a survey that revealed that nearly one-in-two Americans enjoy watching something that is very likely to send shivers down their spine.

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Lotus Flower in Space 🪷‍
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8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A 60 yr old grandma the size of a small child with two humans in a polar bear suit. So Russia then.

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Hippopotamuses
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d hate to be there when that horse finally farts. You can kiss goodbye to that building, for a start.

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If you enjoy viewing somewhat disturbing or scary content online, Bored Panda has you covered; check out more lists of cursed images here, here, here, and here next.

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Passerby
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brain couldn't process what this is for a second. It's a fridge, isn't it?

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Steph
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunatly I had to witness such solutions in some poor Asian and African areas. And they were the most hygienic ones…sadly. So please: don‘t mock this creative effort to provide more hygiene. It‘s the most they can afford. You should feel lucky not having to live there.

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Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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