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The most widespread use of augmented reality isn't in gaming: it's the face filters on social media. In fact, around 1 out of 5 Americans who has ever had any social media account has used a beauty filter before posting pictures on social media, according to this report.

And while their damaging role on self-esteem and confidence is crystal clear, the rise of selfie culture is bringing people to new levels of fakery on social media. The TikToker and makeup artist Holly Cockerill has clearly had enough of that.

While knowing the inner workings of the beauty industry, she showed just how fake social media is. In a series of TikTok videos, Holly ‘exposed’ her own Instagram vs reality selfies that went viral, amassing millions of views. “Social media is fake, don’t be fooled,” the caption read and as you scroll below, you can clearly see what she meant.

@hollycockerillmua Social media is fake, don’t be fooled ☺️ #fyp #fakevsreal #instagramvsreality #loveyourself ♬ Praise God - Kanye West

TikToker Holly added that she didn't use the pictures shown in this experiment on her social media

Bored Panda reached out to Holly Cockerill, a social media creator and makeup artist based in Blackburn who went viral for this Tik Tok video series. Holly is 27 years old and works as a support worker for people with learning disabilities. 

“I enjoy making people laugh so I started making funny videos on Tik Tok,” Holly recounted and added that “but then I had a passion for makeup and that’s why I created my makeup page and that’s where my ‘Instagram vs real life’ videos are on.”

When asked what inspired her to create the now-viral "Social media is fake, don't be fooled" videos, Holly said that she got an idea after she posted a few images years ago when she had acne and I got a good response from people who could relate. “So it started from there,” she said.

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William Teach
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm simply shocked that people on social media would alter their photos! I've never heard of this happening!!!!1!!!!

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“But I’m guilty of always scrolling through Instagram and seeing ‘perfect’ selfies with the perfect life and it made me feel so bad about myself and I'd constantly compare myself to these fake images,” Holly told us in an interview. “I then started seeing accounts showing celebrities and popular influencers on social media vs real life and I couldn’t believe the difference.”

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That’s when she started her own ‘Instagram vs real-life images. “It made me feel so much better after I had girls message me saying my posts were helping them, so I continued to do them.”

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least she is not insecure about her body! I don't see many changes there maybe a little bit on the waist?

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Holly believes that the use of beauty filters has a massive effect on people, especially the younger generation. “These young people look up to influencers and want to be like them or look like them. And if those influencers are using an app that changes everything about themselves then it’s making normal people question why they don’t look good enough,” she explained.

She continued: “People start to hate themselves which then can cause serious mental health problems. They are comparing themselves to life like ‘avatars’ that don’t even exist and it’s scary. Young people will get surgery to look like their idols when really those idols don’t even look like they portray themselves online.”

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KatHat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate so much about these damn apps, and this isn't the worst part, but the way they took a quirky half-smile and made it a vapid "lips partly open pouty face" is just UGH. They make all the women look plastic and fake, AND like they have no personality. Chuck them all in the volcano (the apps, not the women ;) )

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Holly also said that “everyone has flaws, texture, scars, etc. but seeing perfect images all the time makes you feel like you shouldn’t, it’s dangerous.”

“I’ve seen a lot more people talk about the fakery on social media and I’ve started to follow accounts that make me feel better and happy instead of following those that make me question my self-worth,” she said. “It’s so refreshing to scroll through Instagram and actually enjoy it again. If more people showed their true self then more people will relate to it,” she said. Holly added that she hopes that looking perfect all the time will run out of fashion.

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Travis Fox
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First believable one I've seen. It's not drastic, just evening the skin tone and a bit of makeup.

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Cesha Wells
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The song going around in this girl's head? "I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world..."

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Here's how people on TikTok reacted to the series