Social media often makes us believe the impossible, from enviable lives to polished looks. Many Insta selfies posted out there have that dreamy, kinda “too good to be true” quality… 

Two months ago, the #CatfishChallenge was all over the headlines as the big TikTok challenge for women comparing their super glammed-up looks to what they look like underneath the makeup. The bare-faced TikTokers asked their followers to judge whether they could be considered “catfish” or not.

The hashtag #CatfishChallenge alone had 409 million views on the app, and it still remains one of TikTok’s most popular trends.

Yet the whole concept for the challenge started all the way back in April 2020, when a TikToker @mzznofilter uploaded a video where she compared a photo on Snapchat to what she looked like in reality.

The TikToker was seen laughing while saying “I just took this photo on Snapchat. I don’t look like that. Catfish… MEOW!” The video blew up on social media eight months later and amassed 2.1 million views.

Essentially, a TikTok video trend emerged, aimed at debunking a common myth that everyone looks perfect in their daily lives. By revealing their genuine faces behind the makeup and photo editing, the TikTokers made a point that the picture and reality don’t always coincide. And often, the difference is extreme.

Previously, Bored Panda reached out to social media influencer Shanae Thompson, who goes by the TikTok handle @itsyagirlshaeee. Shanae also joined #CatfishChallenge and her video went viral, amassing 163.6k likes two months ago.

The TikToker said that she enjoys doing challenges on the platform, but this one she made at random. “I didn’t plan that video at all, that content was taken after a single take and it ended up getting a lot more attention than I ever expected!”

Shanae also said that she enjoyed being able to “play with makeup and change my look.” However, she stressed that by the end of the day, “taking all that off and relaxing is the best part of the day.”

The TikToker wanted “to remind everyone to love themselves for who they are.” Especially in the moments when you don’t look your best. “Be comfortable and confident in your skin,” she said.

And while the #CatfishChallenge grew widely popular, many people felt like it promoted online deception. The internet is a perfect place to facilitate deception through the manipulation of identity by using makeup and filters and to create an unreal representation of self.

Some say it thus sends a wrong message to others, making them believe a person is someone they really aren’t.