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TikToker Goes Viral By Exposing The Truth Behind Heavily-Edited Pictures On Social Media (30 Pics)
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
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
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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#2
William Teach 3 years ago
I'm simply shocked that people on social media would alter their photos! I've never heard of this happening!!!!1!!!!
“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.”
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.”
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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#8
KatHat 3 years ago
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 ;) )
#9
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.
#13
Travis Fox 3 years ago
First believable one I've seen. It's not drastic, just evening the skin tone and a bit of makeup.
#18
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#25
Miss Cris 3 years ago
I think she has some filters in both pics, in this case.
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#26
#28
Cesha Wells 3 years ago
The song going around in this girl's head? "I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world..."
Here's how people on TikTok reacted to the series
Add New Image
What do you think ?
ToGo 3 years ago
Looking at some of the comments, it seems a few people aren't getting this article. The girl is showing you what people do with these photo editors. The "before" pictures are the exact same picture as the "after". You can add hair, you can be closed mouth and the editing app gives you a smile, new teeth and all. Most "influencers" use these apps. It's genuinely scary.
Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
Also, most of everybody these days uses these apps. Not just influencers. My friend with 100 followers edits her photos so much that I literally didn't recognize her when I saw her at the mall a few months back. I was astonished to know she's 40lbs heavier, has acne everywhere and has a chipped front tooth (not that this is a sign of being ugly! She still beautiful!) When none of those thing were ever featured on her IG.... which she looked so pretty when I saw her IRL! She had just had a baby and I understand she wanted to edit that out but I for one would much rather see healthy, normal women than photoshopped sized nothing and perfect everything. It's just not realistic. Not cute either.
Load More Replies...
Jessica Combrink 3 years ago
I feel like most comments did not READ the caption in the beginning. This person CREATED these fake and real to EDUCATE. Instead of shaming each edited picture, just marvel at how easy it is to edit pictures.... tyvm
Suzi Q 3 years ago
Oh I get it. But I've seen real comparisons like these. It just creates more unrealistic expectations which leads to eating disorders in girls. It's sad. Just be yourself!
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 3 years ago
I'm starting to think these filters should not be legally available. It's like you are looking at an alternate reality but no one told you.
Jo Choto 3 years ago
I had no idea that you could do this with apps, but then again, I don't do most social media platforms and I'm not interested in looking at pictures of strangers. I really appreciate her educating me on just how fake all of these pictures are.
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago (edited)
I honestly didn't realize just how much a normal person could easily edit photos, so I learned something from this. I don't use Facebook, Instagram, or any other platforms. I can usually tell when a photo has some editing because it'll look a bit off or cartoonish, but I didn't know you could change whether or not a person was smiling or give them a full face of makeup!
Load More Replies...
Vicky Z 3 years ago
Why are people shocked in the comments at the end of the post? Where have they been living the last decade and haven't heard about photoshop and filters?
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
Not everyone spends hours on social media every day.
Load More Replies...
Jods 3 years ago
Had a new next door neighbour move in. The name rang a big bell and I was sure she was on Facebook. Looked her up and initially thought she’d lost a lot of weight. No, she’d heavily edited her profile photo to the usual high-cheeked pouty look. I’m sorry to say me and my mum had a really good laugh. Personally think it shouldn’t be allowed - if others can’t accept how you look, then sod ‘em all. Is it a good thing for those who don’t like their body to apply these filters?
Susan Trevaskis-Owen 3 years ago
How many of these articles have we already seen? How many times has this been "exposed?" If people don't know by now that it's all filters & photoshop, they never will.
Juno French 3 years ago
I'm pretty sure 99 percent of these pictures are just the Kardashians.
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
These shiny plastic mannequin faces are horrifying. I keep thinking unhealthy, unrealistic beauty standards can’t get any worse, and I keep being proved wrong.
Lara Verne 3 years ago
What's the point of these filters? They don't make you look better, they make you look like different person.
Megan Reaza 1 year ago
The problem is that these type of extremely gorgeous looking people do exist. They're rare, but we've seen them in person, or on video, before the advent of special digital effects. Who can forget the face of Brooke Shields or Elizabeth Taylor?
Hammer 3 years ago
I think so many people didn't understand the assignment. They were criticizing her for photoshopping or Facetuning when that was exactly her point. Everyone complaining about her editing is missing the point. No wonder we as a society are screwed, nobody tries to understand anything anymore, they just skip to look at the pictures. SMH
Chris Sprucefield 3 years ago
... and they really think we buy this glam-pic BS? I can't but wonder what they think they are trying to achieve with these over-edited pictures... Okey to remove a pimple or similar, enhance the colours a bit, fix lighting issues in the pic, but that is really as far as it should go. Most of the pics just look tatty, and this is the image they want to convey of themselves - being obviously false?
Salty Wild Hair 3 years ago
LOL One of her man's friends says "that is your girlfriend?", he looks, and has to think about it. Good photo essay. I did not know that ps was so drastic.
Brent Hollett 3 years ago
At what point do digital artists simply become "I'm drawing a portrait from scratch"?
Boreedout of my mind 3 years ago
Took me way too long to realise it was all pics of the same woman
LiamTheBot 3 years ago
These girls are very beautiful without the photoshop… just a tad(who am I kidding) third degree sun burnt
Bellatrix Lestrange 3 years ago
These are all the same person, she's trying to show how easy it is to edit images online.
Load More Replies...
plain bOrEd not panda 3 years ago
It's not a proof that social media *is* fake, it's a proof it's a good medium for fake people to live fake lives. It's full of non-fake people too.
RMA 3 years ago
You’re right. My IG feed has pictures of cats and dogs and flowers and so do the people I follow.
Load More Replies...
Narwhal Blast 3 years ago
So when she's not smiling or showing teeth, she adds teeth to make it better, and when she's showing teeth, she's hiding it in the after photos. Is that how it's supposed to work? Also, poor guy, he looks completely different. Not even a twin, maybe just an older brother. He looks replaced. Lol
Mica Silvia 3 years ago
Yes and I don't see what you do.. it looks like him but heavily filtered the same as her pics ..the nose shape, eye shape etc are all the same .. you can definitely tell its him imo ..
Load More Replies...
Casey McAlister 3 years ago
We have one of those every week. Yeah, people still edit their photos, who could have thought. Beides, here people mostly just add more makeup, so they could techically do without any filters.
Anthony Picco 3 years ago
OMG!!! Stuff on the internet is faked??? Call the media! Alert the newspapers. People need to KNOW this!!! EXTRA!!! THIS JUST IN!!! Santa and the Easter Bunny: NOT REAL!
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
It can't be said often enough. There are 13 year old kids out there who definitely don't realize the extent of this, because they are naive CHILDREN. And frankly, even as an adult, I'm baffled what insane faking is possible with these filters. Adding smiles, when the people weren't even smiling? Adding hair, where people don't actually have hair? That's insane.
Load More Replies...
buttonpusher 3 years ago
Think about it, you never see someone look like this in real life. Even with a face full of makeup and botox. I've got cousins who edit the crap out of their photos and they look nothing like it in person.
Stephanie Keith 3 years ago
I do believe you are misunderstanding what people think about this issue. People are not feeling slighted or shaming anyone who does this. They are just pointing out the harm it is causing.
Load More Replies...
ToGo 3 years ago
Looking at some of the comments, it seems a few people aren't getting this article. The girl is showing you what people do with these photo editors. The "before" pictures are the exact same picture as the "after". You can add hair, you can be closed mouth and the editing app gives you a smile, new teeth and all. Most "influencers" use these apps. It's genuinely scary.
Imogene Cargeaux 3 years ago
Also, most of everybody these days uses these apps. Not just influencers. My friend with 100 followers edits her photos so much that I literally didn't recognize her when I saw her at the mall a few months back. I was astonished to know she's 40lbs heavier, has acne everywhere and has a chipped front tooth (not that this is a sign of being ugly! She still beautiful!) When none of those thing were ever featured on her IG.... which she looked so pretty when I saw her IRL! She had just had a baby and I understand she wanted to edit that out but I for one would much rather see healthy, normal women than photoshopped sized nothing and perfect everything. It's just not realistic. Not cute either.
Load More Replies... Jessica Combrink 3 years ago
I feel like most comments did not READ the caption in the beginning. This person CREATED these fake and real to EDUCATE. Instead of shaming each edited picture, just marvel at how easy it is to edit pictures.... tyvm
Suzi Q 3 years ago
Oh I get it. But I've seen real comparisons like these. It just creates more unrealistic expectations which leads to eating disorders in girls. It's sad. Just be yourself!
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 3 years ago
I'm starting to think these filters should not be legally available. It's like you are looking at an alternate reality but no one told you.
Jo Choto 3 years ago
I had no idea that you could do this with apps, but then again, I don't do most social media platforms and I'm not interested in looking at pictures of strangers. I really appreciate her educating me on just how fake all of these pictures are.
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago (edited)
I honestly didn't realize just how much a normal person could easily edit photos, so I learned something from this. I don't use Facebook, Instagram, or any other platforms. I can usually tell when a photo has some editing because it'll look a bit off or cartoonish, but I didn't know you could change whether or not a person was smiling or give them a full face of makeup!
Load More Replies... Vicky Z 3 years ago
Why are people shocked in the comments at the end of the post? Where have they been living the last decade and haven't heard about photoshop and filters?
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
Not everyone spends hours on social media every day.
Load More Replies... Jods 3 years ago
Had a new next door neighbour move in. The name rang a big bell and I was sure she was on Facebook. Looked her up and initially thought she’d lost a lot of weight. No, she’d heavily edited her profile photo to the usual high-cheeked pouty look. I’m sorry to say me and my mum had a really good laugh. Personally think it shouldn’t be allowed - if others can’t accept how you look, then sod ‘em all. Is it a good thing for those who don’t like their body to apply these filters?
Susan Trevaskis-Owen 3 years ago
How many of these articles have we already seen? How many times has this been "exposed?" If people don't know by now that it's all filters & photoshop, they never will.
Juno French 3 years ago
I'm pretty sure 99 percent of these pictures are just the Kardashians.
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
These shiny plastic mannequin faces are horrifying. I keep thinking unhealthy, unrealistic beauty standards can’t get any worse, and I keep being proved wrong.
Lara Verne 3 years ago
What's the point of these filters? They don't make you look better, they make you look like different person.
Megan Reaza 1 year ago
The problem is that these type of extremely gorgeous looking people do exist. They're rare, but we've seen them in person, or on video, before the advent of special digital effects. Who can forget the face of Brooke Shields or Elizabeth Taylor?
Hammer 3 years ago
I think so many people didn't understand the assignment. They were criticizing her for photoshopping or Facetuning when that was exactly her point. Everyone complaining about her editing is missing the point. No wonder we as a society are screwed, nobody tries to understand anything anymore, they just skip to look at the pictures. SMH
Chris Sprucefield 3 years ago
... and they really think we buy this glam-pic BS? I can't but wonder what they think they are trying to achieve with these over-edited pictures... Okey to remove a pimple or similar, enhance the colours a bit, fix lighting issues in the pic, but that is really as far as it should go. Most of the pics just look tatty, and this is the image they want to convey of themselves - being obviously false?
Salty Wild Hair 3 years ago
LOL One of her man's friends says "that is your girlfriend?", he looks, and has to think about it. Good photo essay. I did not know that ps was so drastic.
Brent Hollett 3 years ago
At what point do digital artists simply become "I'm drawing a portrait from scratch"?
Boreedout of my mind 3 years ago
Took me way too long to realise it was all pics of the same woman
LiamTheBot 3 years ago
These girls are very beautiful without the photoshop… just a tad(who am I kidding) third degree sun burnt
Bellatrix Lestrange 3 years ago
These are all the same person, she's trying to show how easy it is to edit images online.
Load More Replies... plain bOrEd not panda 3 years ago
It's not a proof that social media *is* fake, it's a proof it's a good medium for fake people to live fake lives. It's full of non-fake people too.
RMA 3 years ago
You’re right. My IG feed has pictures of cats and dogs and flowers and so do the people I follow.
Load More Replies... Narwhal Blast 3 years ago
So when she's not smiling or showing teeth, she adds teeth to make it better, and when she's showing teeth, she's hiding it in the after photos. Is that how it's supposed to work? Also, poor guy, he looks completely different. Not even a twin, maybe just an older brother. He looks replaced. Lol
Mica Silvia 3 years ago
Yes and I don't see what you do.. it looks like him but heavily filtered the same as her pics ..the nose shape, eye shape etc are all the same .. you can definitely tell its him imo ..
Load More Replies... Casey McAlister 3 years ago
We have one of those every week. Yeah, people still edit their photos, who could have thought. Beides, here people mostly just add more makeup, so they could techically do without any filters.
Anthony Picco 3 years ago
OMG!!! Stuff on the internet is faked??? Call the media! Alert the newspapers. People need to KNOW this!!! EXTRA!!! THIS JUST IN!!! Santa and the Easter Bunny: NOT REAL!
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
It can't be said often enough. There are 13 year old kids out there who definitely don't realize the extent of this, because they are naive CHILDREN. And frankly, even as an adult, I'm baffled what insane faking is possible with these filters. Adding smiles, when the people weren't even smiling? Adding hair, where people don't actually have hair? That's insane.
Load More Replies... buttonpusher 3 years ago
Think about it, you never see someone look like this in real life. Even with a face full of makeup and botox. I've got cousins who edit the crap out of their photos and they look nothing like it in person.
Stephanie Keith 3 years ago
I do believe you are misunderstanding what people think about this issue. People are not feeling slighted or shaming anyone who does this. They are just pointing out the harm it is causing.
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