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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.

#1

Thank You Tinder For The Incoming Nightmares Ill Have Tonight

Thank You Tinder For The Incoming Nightmares Ill Have Tonight

benkirby1992 Report

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    #2

    Internal Organs? Never Heard Of 'Em

    Internal Organs? Never Heard Of 'Em

    Negative_Splace Report

    #3

    I’m Sensing A Filter

    I’m Sensing A Filter

    OriginalGSpot Report

    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)

    Omeone Needs To Come Take Their Moms Phone (In The Comments She Swears She Didn't Edit)

    reddit.com Report

    #5

    Must Be Her Sister In The Car

    Must Be Her Sister In The Car

    illegalmemesforsal Report

    #6

    Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened Tinder This Morning

    Nearly Had A Heart Attack When I Opened Tinder This Morning

    reknae Report

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    “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

    One Of Those Whitening Ads Again

    reddit.com Report

    #8

    He Has One Sky That Follows Him Around Everywhere He Goes. Amazing How Its So Consistent!

    He Has One Sky That Follows Him Around Everywhere He Goes. Amazing How Its So Consistent!

    BlurzIce Report

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    #9

    Photographer’s Page vs. Model’s Page

    Photographer’s Page vs. Model’s Page

    reddit.com Report

    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!

    Her Entire Profile Is Filled With These!

    reddit.com Report

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    #11

    What She Lacks In Calves She Makes Up In Shoe Size

    What She Lacks In Calves She Makes Up In Shoe Size

    funpolicebendover Report

    #12

    Saw This A While Back... Thought I’d Post It Here

    Saw This A While Back... Thought I’d Post It Here

    afroqt Report

    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

    Every Post Is This Weird Forced Laugh Pose And Soullessly White Eyes

    lolita_babe Report

    #14

    She Could Be An Olympic Swimmer With Those Flippers!

    She Could Be An Olympic Swimmer With Those Flippers!

    AndreasBerthou Report

    #15

    Same Person - Instagram & Screenshot On Television

    Same Person - Instagram & Screenshot On Television

    reddit.com Report

    “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.”

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    #16

    My Friend Met This Girl And She Looks Nothing Like This

    My Friend Met This Girl And She Looks Nothing Like This

    ConversationMotor536 Report

    #17

    You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

    You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

    scorpiopath Report

    #18

    I Finally Found One In The Wild

    I Finally Found One In The Wild

    thelittleEcho Report

    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

    Those Proportions Though

    slm81 Report

    #20

    No Face Texture

    No Face Texture

    OpnerOner Report

    #21

    That Is One Giant Hand

    That Is One Giant Hand

    Leathermos Report

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    “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

    New Picture vs. Picture From 2020

    Nahareeli Report

    #23

    I’m Speechless

    I’m Speechless

    dg_hj25 Report

    #24

    Found This Random Ig Model And I'm Genuinely Terrified

    Found This Random Ig Model And I'm Genuinely Terrified

    Crazy_Slice Report

    #25

    Do Male Ig Models Count?

    Do Male Ig Models Count?

    reddit.com Report

    #26

    When Your Head Is Thrice As Large As Your Thigh

    When Your Head Is Thrice As Large As Your Thigh

    reddit.com Report

    #27

    We’ve Got Another Member Of The Pea-Head Squad. His Head Compared To His Hands...i Can’t

    We’ve Got Another Member Of The Pea-Head Squad. His Head Compared To His Hands...i Can’t

    okay_but_what Report

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    #28

    I Really Thought At First Glance This Was A Sims Freeplay Edit

    I Really Thought At First Glance This Was A Sims Freeplay Edit

    Winston_Churchill Report

    #29

    Photoshop Skills Level Above 1000

    Photoshop Skills Level Above 1000

    reddit.com Report

    #30

    She Claims Her Body Is “Natural” And All “Genetics”

    She Claims Her Body Is “Natural” And All “Genetics”

    wolfxiwtf Report

    #31

    Whitest Teeth In The West

    Whitest Teeth In The West

    thelostdemon Report

    #32

    Pants For Stick People

    Pants For Stick People

    NoCommunication5431 Report

    #33

    Jeebs

    Jeebs

    throwawarRAqwertyuio Report

    #34

    Don’t Understand How Someone Can See This As Anything But Straight Up Scary

    Don’t Understand How Someone Can See This As Anything But Straight Up Scary

    faevic Report

    #35

    I Was Shopping Online When I Saw This Dress... And Those Shoulders

    I Was Shopping Online When I Saw This Dress... And Those Shoulders

    saithesti Report

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    #36

    It's Like A Mask

    It's Like A Mask

    maxowl95 Report

    #37

    Someone’s Learning On Ms Paint

    Someone’s Learning On Ms Paint

    Captaincadet Report

    #38

    Skipped Leg Day, Forever

    Skipped Leg Day, Forever

    Douchecanoeistaken Report

    #39

    Holy Hand Difference, Batman

    Holy Hand Difference, Batman

    galwithgoats Report

    #40

    The Caption Says It’s Not Photoshop, But... How?

    The Caption Says It’s Not Photoshop, But... How?

    bringthesnacks Report

    #41

    Scarred Me A Little Bit, Not Gonna Lie

    Scarred Me A Little Bit, Not Gonna Lie

    Malow Report

    #42

    Her Ig Profile Picture vs. A Screencap Of The TV Show She's On

    Her Ig Profile Picture vs. A Screencap Of The TV Show She's On

    reddit.com Report

    #43

    You Can Barely See Her Nose

    You Can Barely See Her Nose

    Matthiaszzz Report

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    #44

    Ok These Are Getting Ridiculous

    Ok These Are Getting Ridiculous

    _IssaViolin_ Report

    #45

    This Edit Seems Off

    This Edit Seems Off

    reddit.com Report

    #46

    This Guy's Instagram Is A Goldmine

    This Guy's Instagram Is A Goldmine

    reddit.com Report

    #47

    Econ 101

    Econ 101

    reddit.com Report

    #48

    Hi Humans

    Hi Humans

    ClinicalIllusionist Report

    #49

    Someone Call An Ambulance

    Someone Call An Ambulance

    velmazing44 Report

    #50

    Aging Really Shouldn’t Be Something We’re Ashamed Of

    Aging Really Shouldn’t Be Something We’re Ashamed Of

    reddit.com Report

    Note: this post originally had 70 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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