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Best Of All Time: 50 Of The Most Embarrassing Instagram Vs. Reality Pics
Interview With Expert
Some of the images people post online can range from cute to an utter spit in the face of photography. But there is a specific subset of absurd pictures where a person has decided that no one will notice the mountain of filters they have applied.
We’ve gathered some of the most egregious examples of “Instagram versus reality” on the internet. We also got in touch with Erin Vogel, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to discuss beauty standards and how they warp people’s perceptions. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and share your thoughts below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Thank You Tinder For The Incoming Nightmares Ill Have Tonight
#2
Internal Organs? Never Heard Of 'Em
#3
I’m Sensing A Filter
Bored Panda got in touch with Erin Vogel, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and she was kind enough to share some thoughts with us on beauty standards, what causes them, where they come from and what people can do to change their mindset.
“Beauty standards are rooted in systems of power. People with privilege set standards that are not attainable—and maybe not desirable—for most people. For example, in the United States, many beauty standards are centered around White people’s appearances.”
#4
Omeone Needs To Come Take Their Moms Phone (In The Comments She Swears She Didn't Edit)
#5
Must Be Her Sister In The Car
#6
Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened Tinder This Morning
Lavern Defazio 3 months ago
I don't know what to look at. His forehead? His eyes? His mouth? His chin!!??
Bill Swallow 3 months ago
... And they all moved away from him on the Group W bench, gave him the ol' hairy eyeball...
Friendly Neighbourhood Hermit 3 months ago
He looks like he's about to go live in a cave and become emotionally attached to a shiny ring
geezeronthehill 3 months ago
Looks as if he filled all the wrinkles in his forehead with flesh tone bondo.
frank behnsen 3 months ago
How admireable. In most cases, the “1.000-mile glance” of war veterans is rather miserable. It always makes me feel so sad. Butt this one’s happily ready for WW3. “Let’s roll, once more”.
“Advertisements, both online and offline, reinforce the idea that we need to spend money on products and services to look a certain way to be attractive and feel good about ourselves,” she shared. After all, if you constantly feel like your own body, hair or face is a problem, chances are you’ll spend money to “fix” it.
#7
One Of Those Whitening Ads Again
#8
He Has One Sky That Follows Him Around Everywhere He Goes. Amazing How Its So Consistent!
#9
Photographer’s Page vs. Model’s Page
We also wanted to know if there were any other “sources” of beauty standards. “Traditional media and social media both play a role in setting beauty standards. When people with certain features (e.g., thinner or more muscular bodies) are consistently shown in the media, we collectively start to believe that those features are ideal.”
#10
Her Entire Profile Is Filled With These!
#11
What She Lacks In Calves She Makes Up In Shoe Size
#12
Saw This A While Back... Thought I’d Post It Here
So we also wanted to hear her advice on what people can do to try and “shield” themselves from the constant bombardment of certain body types and looks. “Follow people on social media whose content brings something good to your life. Social media can be great for staying in touch with friends, making ourselves laugh, and learning something new.”
#13
Every Post Is This Weird Forced Laugh Pose And Soullessly White Eyes
#14
She Could Be An Olympic Swimmer With Those Flippers!
#15
Same Person - Instagram & Screenshot On Television
“If you notice that you’re constantly comparing yourself to other people on social media and feeling bad about yourself, it might be time to follow some new people. There are plenty of body-positive people of all shapes and sizes on social media. Find someone relatable. Their content might be uplifting when you’re struggling with the pressure to look perfect.”
#16
My Friend Met This Girl And She Looks Nothing Like This
#17
You Have Got To Be Kidding Me
#18
I Finally Found One In The Wild
However, setting those standards aside, we also wanted to hear her opinion on the sorts of images seen here. After all, beauty standards are one thing, but some of these are so overly edited that there is no way they look “good.” “We spend a lot of time on social media, and we adjust to seeing and using filters!” she shared.
#19
Those Proportions Though
#20
No Face Texture
#21
That Is One Giant Hand
“Many people who edit their images may be trying to fit a certain ideal that seems normal and desirable on social media.” Unfortunately, if you spend too much time just looking at edited photos, you end up with a skewed idea of what human beings look like. So if 90% of the people you see are on Instagram, the photos here are not that far from the norm.
#22
New Picture vs. Picture From 2020
#23
I’m Speechless
#24
Found This Random Ig Model And I'm Genuinely Terrified
#25
Do Male Ig Models Count?
#26
When Your Head Is Thrice As Large As Your Thigh
Happy Horse Girl 3 months ago (edited)
And your feet are backwards........ (Left is right and right is left)
#27
We’ve Got Another Member Of The Pea-Head Squad. His Head Compared To His Hands...i Can’t
#28
I Really Thought At First Glance This Was A Sims Freeplay Edit
#29
Photoshop Skills Level Above 1000
Otto Katz 3 months ago
What's sad about this one is he's really a good looking guy! No reason to do whatever it is he did to that picture. instagram-...32537b.jpg 
#30
She Claims Her Body Is “Natural” And All “Genetics”
#31
Whitest Teeth In The West
Aviation Panda 3 months ago
This reminds me of the friends episode where Ross gets his teeth over-whitened and tries to hide it on a date
#32
Pants For Stick People
#33
Jeebs
#34
Don’t Understand How Someone Can See This As Anything But Straight Up Scary
#35
I Was Shopping Online When I Saw This Dress... And Those Shoulders
#36
It's Like A Mask
#37
Someone’s Learning On Ms Paint
#38
Skipped Leg Day, Forever
PeepPeep the duck 3 months ago
It’ reminds me of Sid’s toy with the muscle man arms and duck head 😂
#39
Holy Hand Difference, Batman
#40
The Caption Says It’s Not Photoshop, But... How?
PeepPeep the duck 3 months ago
I think the ocean begs to differ 😂 it’s so fluffy around her perfectly round butt
#41
Scarred Me A Little Bit, Not Gonna Lie
#42
Her Ig Profile Picture vs. A Screencap Of The TV Show She's On
#43
You Can Barely See Her Nose
#44
Ok These Are Getting Ridiculous
#45
This Edit Seems Off
#46
This Guy's Instagram Is A Goldmine
#47
Econ 101
#48
Hi Humans
#49
Someone Call An Ambulance
Add New Image
What do you think ?
frank behnsen 3 months ago
Oh my. What a gallery of fakes. I’m feeling exhausted right now, but in the same time I feel lucky to be such an ugly bastard. No image editing software can compete with that.
Will Cable 3 months ago
You can't be as ugly as me, my phone suggest a paper bag over my head as a photo filter.
Load More Replies...
Mariele Scherzinger 3 months ago
So obviously, the photoshopped versions are what all these people would like to look like? Honestly, what is wrong with all these people? Their aesthetics look like diseases. And now guys dream about tightlacing themselves - that's reverse sexism.
Alyce 3 months ago
Just to be pedantic - there is no 'reverse' sexism. There is only sexism, where one is treated a particular way due solely to their chromosomes.
Load More Replies...
Kathy Richardson 3 months ago
It's like the movies when aliens are trying to impersonate humans and aren't getting it quite right.
CanadianDimes 3 months ago
I genuinely don’t get why people don’t want to look like people. Do they actually think they really look like that or these obviously fake appearances look good?
Petra Schaap 3 months ago
so... any people out there that look at these pictures and think its real? (and pretty?)
Daniela Lavanza 3 months ago
Indeed. However, IMHO the main problem is that some people dare show those pics of "themselves" and truly believe viewers will buy it. Being so out of touch is worrying.
Load More Replies...
J Adams 3 months ago
Hate these articles, it’s just bullying. Instead of laughing at people the question should be; why do they feel the need to alter their appearance in such radical ways? Is it societal pressures, mental illness or just feeling upset about how bad they ‘think’ they look? Just imagine if it was a photograph of you that someone has stolen/harvested from social media and you are just browsing the internet years later and find yourself the butt of jokes and nastiness, it’s just wrong. I’d argue perhaps celebrities are fair game as their lives are lives in the public eye but regular people just no
Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 3 months ago
Reading the comments made me incredibly sad... these people need help not bullying for needing it
Load More Replies...
CD Mills 3 months ago
Do any of these people realize that others WILL notice the difference when they see you irl? How do they explain the differences in looking nothing like their real face and body in photos? Do these people have friends and family who are seeing these photoshopped fever dreams? Every one of these people needs therapy to deal with whatever disorders are making them wish for these uncanny valley looks!
Friendly Neighbourhood Hermit 3 months ago (edited)
You think it's bad enough that they actually post these things on social media, but then you realise that a heck ton of people actually give them likes on the photos. Which just influences them even further into thinking it's normal to post even more of this insanity 😭
DC 3 months ago
Oof. Ok, the vast majority of them don't look anywhere near believable ... but ... none of them benefit from it. Those huge butts? Seriously? That, to me, looks more medically relevant than aesthetically desirable - were even a fraction of that sudden and local growth true, head to the Doctor's, any medical field, now - regardless of their profession within the medical field, they'll likely know where to direct you, as long as there's still sufficient seating available ... so, hurry up a bit, maybe...
Douglas Tucker 3 months ago
I agree with Limey but will add that the many folks who produce these self masterpieces may unfortunately think that these images are picture perfect for public release. They ain't! The extra sad part is many of these folks probably aren't bad to see, as they really are, but they are disappointed in themselves and this is their escape mechanism that goes beyond wearing cool clothing, or picking a fantastic photo location, and/or a witty comment with the photo.
Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 3 months ago
My heart hurts for these people- i cant finish the list... i assume the majority here have eating disorders or similar... i hope they get the help they need
María Hermida 3 months ago
No. The majority here are attention seekers who are earning money and likes by behaving like freaks. All these "influencers" are creating unattainable ideals in many young people's minds, and shaping a shallow society where only appearances count. They are not victims.
Load More Replies...
Steven Summers 3 months ago
Imagine having so little grasp on reality that you take a picture of yourself, run it through an editing process that produces an image like one of these, take a look at the result and say "yep, post it!"
wowbagger 3 months ago
For years, animated movies and video games have been getting more and more realistic, till you almost can't tell the difference. At the same time, actual photos are getting more and more filtered. Have we finally reached the cross-over point where fiction is more believable than reality?
Prince Lee 3 months ago
idk what is the obsession with the huge huge hips and butts on some women, i used to play a game called secondlife, it was filled with woman/female avatars that look like the girls on here..... when i see females with hips and buttoms like that.... it makes me physically ill, yet natural ones don't {my husband puts it down to me being gay lol}
Angelshark 3 months ago
I'm never going to win the "world's sexiest man" but I've never felt the need to distort my own image to such lengths. It makes me worry for the mental health of these folks. It also make me worry about us as a society that we've driven these people to believe they need to look a certain way to be accepted.
Sam Kenway 3 months ago
BTW, Erin Vogel, Ph.D.--quoted in the article--doesn't seem very bright, and seems to think that beauty standards haven't been around since the beginning of time. What nonsense.
Marie BellaDonna 3 months ago
Imagine how unhappy with themselves a person has to be, to feel the need to alter their image that radically. They HAVE to know how terrible and unrealistic it looks. But somehow they think it looks better? It's really sad.
Danish Susanne 3 months ago
I think that Social Media Platforms could perhaps make a note that this picture is Photoshopped, to remind people not to believe that these fake pictures have anything to do with reality.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 3 months ago
I mean, don't get RID of them, because they're funny, but make it so the programmes know they've been edited and say so. what baffles me is how people think these images are more attractive than a normal looking person
Jaguarundi 3 months ago
My niece commonly distorts her features in photographs. Sadly, she's a professionally trained photographer. Now she wonders why she doesn't get hired for photography jobs.
Mark Alibozek 3 months ago
Yes it's sad. Yes it's silly but do we need to parade them around on the internet like an old time freakshow for everyone to insult and laugh about? Probably not
John Harrison 3 months ago
Friendly reminder - Some of these may not have been altered and posted to the internet by the actual people in the picture. Anyone can alter anyone else's photo and post it.
Jerome G Corpuz 3 months ago
I think there's nothing wrong with what they have done, if that's how they want to look like, let them be. We all have our preferences. Although, some of them already look funny to me.
frank behnsen 3 months ago
Oh my. What a gallery of fakes. I’m feeling exhausted right now, but in the same time I feel lucky to be such an ugly bastard. No image editing software can compete with that.
Will Cable 3 months ago
You can't be as ugly as me, my phone suggest a paper bag over my head as a photo filter.
Load More Replies... Mariele Scherzinger 3 months ago
So obviously, the photoshopped versions are what all these people would like to look like? Honestly, what is wrong with all these people? Their aesthetics look like diseases. And now guys dream about tightlacing themselves - that's reverse sexism.
Alyce 3 months ago
Just to be pedantic - there is no 'reverse' sexism. There is only sexism, where one is treated a particular way due solely to their chromosomes.
Load More Replies... Kathy Richardson 3 months ago
It's like the movies when aliens are trying to impersonate humans and aren't getting it quite right.
CanadianDimes 3 months ago
I genuinely don’t get why people don’t want to look like people. Do they actually think they really look like that or these obviously fake appearances look good?
Petra Schaap 3 months ago
so... any people out there that look at these pictures and think its real? (and pretty?)
Daniela Lavanza 3 months ago
Indeed. However, IMHO the main problem is that some people dare show those pics of "themselves" and truly believe viewers will buy it. Being so out of touch is worrying.
Load More Replies... J Adams 3 months ago
Hate these articles, it’s just bullying. Instead of laughing at people the question should be; why do they feel the need to alter their appearance in such radical ways? Is it societal pressures, mental illness or just feeling upset about how bad they ‘think’ they look? Just imagine if it was a photograph of you that someone has stolen/harvested from social media and you are just browsing the internet years later and find yourself the butt of jokes and nastiness, it’s just wrong. I’d argue perhaps celebrities are fair game as their lives are lives in the public eye but regular people just no
Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 3 months ago
Reading the comments made me incredibly sad... these people need help not bullying for needing it
Load More Replies... CD Mills 3 months ago
Do any of these people realize that others WILL notice the difference when they see you irl? How do they explain the differences in looking nothing like their real face and body in photos? Do these people have friends and family who are seeing these photoshopped fever dreams? Every one of these people needs therapy to deal with whatever disorders are making them wish for these uncanny valley looks!
Friendly Neighbourhood Hermit 3 months ago (edited)
You think it's bad enough that they actually post these things on social media, but then you realise that a heck ton of people actually give them likes on the photos. Which just influences them even further into thinking it's normal to post even more of this insanity 😭
DC 3 months ago
Oof. Ok, the vast majority of them don't look anywhere near believable ... but ... none of them benefit from it. Those huge butts? Seriously? That, to me, looks more medically relevant than aesthetically desirable - were even a fraction of that sudden and local growth true, head to the Doctor's, any medical field, now - regardless of their profession within the medical field, they'll likely know where to direct you, as long as there's still sufficient seating available ... so, hurry up a bit, maybe...
Douglas Tucker 3 months ago
I agree with Limey but will add that the many folks who produce these self masterpieces may unfortunately think that these images are picture perfect for public release. They ain't! The extra sad part is many of these folks probably aren't bad to see, as they really are, but they are disappointed in themselves and this is their escape mechanism that goes beyond wearing cool clothing, or picking a fantastic photo location, and/or a witty comment with the photo.
Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 3 months ago
My heart hurts for these people- i cant finish the list... i assume the majority here have eating disorders or similar... i hope they get the help they need
María Hermida 3 months ago
No. The majority here are attention seekers who are earning money and likes by behaving like freaks. All these "influencers" are creating unattainable ideals in many young people's minds, and shaping a shallow society where only appearances count. They are not victims.
Load More Replies... Steven Summers 3 months ago
Imagine having so little grasp on reality that you take a picture of yourself, run it through an editing process that produces an image like one of these, take a look at the result and say "yep, post it!"
wowbagger 3 months ago
For years, animated movies and video games have been getting more and more realistic, till you almost can't tell the difference. At the same time, actual photos are getting more and more filtered. Have we finally reached the cross-over point where fiction is more believable than reality?
Prince Lee 3 months ago
idk what is the obsession with the huge huge hips and butts on some women, i used to play a game called secondlife, it was filled with woman/female avatars that look like the girls on here..... when i see females with hips and buttoms like that.... it makes me physically ill, yet natural ones don't {my husband puts it down to me being gay lol}
Angelshark 3 months ago
I'm never going to win the "world's sexiest man" but I've never felt the need to distort my own image to such lengths. It makes me worry for the mental health of these folks. It also make me worry about us as a society that we've driven these people to believe they need to look a certain way to be accepted.
Sam Kenway 3 months ago
BTW, Erin Vogel, Ph.D.--quoted in the article--doesn't seem very bright, and seems to think that beauty standards haven't been around since the beginning of time. What nonsense.
Marie BellaDonna 3 months ago
Imagine how unhappy with themselves a person has to be, to feel the need to alter their image that radically. They HAVE to know how terrible and unrealistic it looks. But somehow they think it looks better? It's really sad.
Danish Susanne 3 months ago
I think that Social Media Platforms could perhaps make a note that this picture is Photoshopped, to remind people not to believe that these fake pictures have anything to do with reality.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 3 months ago
I mean, don't get RID of them, because they're funny, but make it so the programmes know they've been edited and say so. what baffles me is how people think these images are more attractive than a normal looking person
Jaguarundi 3 months ago
My niece commonly distorts her features in photographs. Sadly, she's a professionally trained photographer. Now she wonders why she doesn't get hired for photography jobs.
Mark Alibozek 3 months ago
Yes it's sad. Yes it's silly but do we need to parade them around on the internet like an old time freakshow for everyone to insult and laugh about? Probably not
John Harrison 3 months ago
Friendly reminder - Some of these may not have been altered and posted to the internet by the actual people in the picture. Anyone can alter anyone else's photo and post it.
Jerome G Corpuz 3 months ago
I think there's nothing wrong with what they have done, if that's how they want to look like, let them be. We all have our preferences. Although, some of them already look funny to me.
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