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“All that is gold does not glitter,”—J.R.R.Tolkien wrote in The Lord of the Rings. The opposite is also true: not everything that shines is gold. And it’s something that we should keep in mind in our modern world which is dominated by the internet and social media.
We’re constantly bombarded by seemingly ‘perfect’ photos of people on Instagram but a lot of the images are heavily photoshopped. The Instagram Reality subreddit is dedicated to collecting the most retouched IG photos and we’ve collected some of the freshest examples of what not to do to your pics. Scroll down, upvote your faves, and read on for our earlier in-depth interviews with the subreddit’s moderators.
When you’re done looking through this list and if you want to see more examples of mindblowing Instagram photoshops, check out Bored Panda's previous articles about the Instagram Reality subreddit right here, here, and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Maybe the cloud is the actual star, and the fact that the girls all look similar is a coincidence? IDK don't watch Greek tv.
#2
Maybe Just One More Filter...
#3
Damn He's Ripped
RaroaRaroa 4 years ago (edited)
Ripped all right. Ripped his arm straight out of a magazine page.
The Instagram Reality moderators previously told Bored Panda that the coronavirus quarantine had slightly increased the subreddit’s membership but the amount of edited and photoshopped photos that people upload hasn’t decreased much during the pandemic.
The mods told Bored Panda that what people want to see are natural photos of influencers and celebrities, not done up and “edited to hell” images. “The influencer is going to realize that, I’m sure," the mods said about how they expected popular IG users to react to being stuck at home during the lockdowns which are now being eased or ended all over the world.
#4
I Don't Even Know
#5
Half Person Half Cartoon?!
#6
Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs
According to the Instagram Reality team, “insecurity, envy, and money” are the forces driving some people to photoshop their pictures so heavily before uploading them on social media. That and wanting to avoid embarrassment because of real or imagined imperfections.
What can start out as a few simple edits or adding some minor filters can eventually lead to major photoshopping. And that creates a huge difference between how the person looks in real life and how they present themselves online.
To be fair, most of us try to show the best sides of ourselves to people. But there’s a rather obvious line between that and turning yourself into a completely different individual online.
#7
The Baddest Indeed
#8
Such A Pretty Sunset :)
#9
This Is... A Lot To Take In
#10
I Have No Idea What This Is...
#11
Where's The Nose?
#12
Well That's Something New
Lynn Donovan 4 years ago
I used to admire this lifestyle. Beauty gurus in their big mansions, youtubers turned millionaires, "influencers" with their pretty hair and make-up always on point. And then I realized how tiresome their lives were. All the fakeness of it. I don't want to live a life where it takes me 20mn to post a photo so people I don't know and I don't care about click a button that magically makes me "worthy". The lack of self-esteem, the level of body dismorphia they suffer, the sadness they must feel every morning looking in the mirror and failing to see the true beauty in themselves. I'll pass, thanks. I left this world of consumerism and found myself a new dream: owning a piece of land to grow my own vegetable garden. It was truly a breath of fresh air.
#13
She Looks Better Without It Though....
#14
The Face Of A Ps3 Character
#15
The Queen Of Makeup
#16
Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All
#17
Something Out Of An Indie Horror Game
#18
She Could've Just Said The Truth..
#19
Post vs. Profile Picture.
RaroaRaroa 4 years ago
She looks so much better in reality. Do some people go for the extra large, square forehead look?
#20
Linkedin Now Too
#21
This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.
#22
This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This
#23
A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space
#24
Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??
#25
Who Needs Organs Anyway?
Tracey Hirt 4 years ago
Why do people do this? Do they think anyone finds a 12-inch waist attractive?
#26
I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
I have always wondered (I saw this person on another panda thread) she actually has really nice real life proportions it must be so hard for people with body dysmorphia and or low self esteem (I mean my self esteem isn't great as I'm a heavily scarred from various surgeries etc and im not exactly fit, but i can own it)
#27
Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview
#28
This "Makeup Artist" Advertising Her Work...
#29
Such A Beautiful Home
#30
This Can't Be Just "Angles"
#31
Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo
#32
Armpit? I Don’t Know Her
#33
I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse
Val/Malibu/Dante/Bob 4 years ago
I mean, some peoples lips just kinda naturally part? Like mine?? So, i don't see the need for the hate??
Load More Replies...
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
And for what purpose? His nose is really nice-looking in reality.
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Mad Mar 4 years ago
Dude is so fake. I refuse to buy his products and anything with his name. Just normal people doing makeup is nice for normal people's faces. Not aliens or plastics. An SIstaaaaaa don't forget in real life ya gotta wash it off eventually. Someone will see what's hiding. This is insecurity and need for constant approval in all these pics.
Amy Pattie 4 years ago
Wow he must be so good at makeup even his individual eyelashes are identical.
starhunter64 4 years ago
is he eating one of those fake edible lip candys? no? then what up with that?
Jenifer Halpern 4 years ago
Are there seriously people alive who do this!? You need to get a grip!
Vicky Zar 4 years ago
His? Is that a man or a woman? Because I thought it's a woman. Is that a new trend? I'm intrigued
2BFunny 4 years ago
They need to realize that they are far more stunning on the right, blessed with the perfect nose
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
This is James Charles. A guy, who identifies as male. He is a makeup artist. He demonstrated his skills, by doing "how to do your own makeup" tutorials on youtube - which of course meant doing makeup on himself. As a result, he was the first male spokesperson for Covergirl. Just like men across many nationalities and cultures, including anglo-christian straight men in history.... he just happens to like wearing makeup. :)
Load More Replies...
Sandy Feuerbacher 4 years ago
So.........THIS is a Male, Female? Bet " IT" doesn't EVEN KNOW!!!!! What a SAD, SAD WORLD IT'S BECOMING!!!!!!!!!
Niko Alarcon 4 years ago
Some men just like to feel pretty... in my case its usually to get my eyelashes out of my eyes [mascara] and for cosplay.
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Luisa Vasconcelos 4 years ago
Wow, who is this person ?!?!? I like his / her jaw. Lokks so androgynous that I don't even know if is a he or a she. Beautiful
Cathelijne van Weelden 4 years ago
The nose is not photoshopped but this is make up and overlighting a picture... I think it is called contouring in the make up world
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
Yea, no. This has been long since debunked to be mere "contour". Each and every one of his before and after images has been enhanced.
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
Some of these pictures look like the result of a severe mental disorder. They need professional help in order to accept what they are.
Evelína Zlá 4 years ago
I would love to learn "The miraculous art of bending time, reality and space".... these ladies use.
Indecisive 4 years ago
I just want to say people are judging these post quite harshly but not taking the time to use empathy for what these people are going through. Society has made everyone believe they must be perfect and this is why people edit there photos its not that hard to have empathy or to understand these people and there choices
Belandriel 4 years ago
Most of these persons must be really very, very sick. I find this pretty sad.
deanna woods 4 years ago
If a person has to change themselves this much on social media, they need to talk to a therapist because they have some form of body dysmorphia. If they don't have body dysmorphia, they are just desperate for followers.
Blackheart 4 years ago
If more people would post what they actually look like, normal would be the new normal. We set such unrealistic expectations.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I agree. There is something severely wrong with the people who trawl the internet for pictures like that to "expose" the original posters too.
Load More Replies...
Wada Kecha 4 years ago
I think some of these are just people trying to joke around. But the one's that aren't a joke are sad.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
They are a kind of visual proof aind indication of body dysmorphia though, that the person can't see how weird and distorted they look in these pictures and that nobody else is going to be fooled by them. They think they look fine, perfect in fact.
Beatrice Multhaupt 4 years ago
Set up an emergency fund to teach these guys some basic Photoshop skills!! Pronto!
Matthew Smith 4 years ago
That's modern life now, fake, fake and yes, FAKE! Why can't people be honest instead of showing us their fantasy?
KimChiLongTime 4 years ago
I think a lot of these people just have terrible eye sight. They literally have blurry vision and have no idea how f*****g stupid their posts look to everyone else.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Please, editors, if you're going to quote, give the appropriate attribution. Shakespeare, who preceded Tolkien, wrote what you finally got to: All that glitters is not gold.
Jo Choto 4 years ago
I wish someone could explain to me what this whole fake image/fake life is about. Like, why do people do it and why do other people follow it and aspire to it, especially knowing that it's pretty much all fake? It all seems so utterly pointless. I don't get it.
Country Nana 4 years ago
I don't understand it either. Why do they post themselves looking like that? What do they hope to gain from it? I could understand someone changing a photo for private use, a person could imagine they look that way, if that is their idea of beauty. But they can't be hoping to find a real lover or real friends this way. And the photo of the young couple - did one or both of them get involved with the photoshopping? Don't they really are each other and how they really look? Perhaps they think other people see the photos and think that the poster is rich and beautiful? But I still don't see how someone finds any satisfaction doing this.
Load More Replies...
StealTheFruit 4 years ago
Everyone is pretty. No matter what, everyone is pretty. Maybe you have a big nose that you don't like? Well that kid in your science class loves big noses, and they think you're beautiful. Have you ever seen someone and thought how good they look, how nice their accessories are, or how cool their hair was? How often have you mentioned it to them? For most people, they don't mention it to the person often. Someone may have seen you and thought about how handsome you are, but never told you. You're your own kind of wonderful.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
It's so sad to see this among of people with severe trust issues. If they feel this need to edit as much, they should feel really bad about themselves. What will they do when they will grow old?Kill themselves? They really need help, posting pics like that should be forbidden, to avoid contagiosity.
richard hero 3 years ago
They want to look good to the people but they lose the reality sense😅
shalu saha 4 years ago
satta king online result platy and earn money... https://www.sattakingonlineresult.in/
Chris DiFonso 4 years ago
The altered outside photos are bad enough. What I totally cannot understand is the EXTREMELY photoshopped pics of people's bodies.
Parker Calyx Everett 4 years ago
For all of these I was just thinking of that interview when Katy Perry said “when they ask you how you are and you have to say you’re fine but you’re not really fine” i dont know why
That one rando 4 years ago
So many Catfishes in the world now like that's the bare minimum up there☹️
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Or you could just stop paying attention to complete and utter fools.
Chris Watson 4 years ago
Remember all this S**T when looking at anything shared by the media!!!
Ray Martin 4 years ago
I don't even care about these people, but the spelling, punctuation, and grammar makes me so frustrated I could scream.
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
When you have feelings that you are a s**t person and worth nothing, just come back and look at these pictures. It will put things into perspective. xx
goblin man 4 years ago
nothing boomers love more than making fun of young people on the internet <3
Val Izhakevich 4 years ago
The future looks evil. I'd advocate for some thorough prenatal screening.
Gilda 4 years ago
I dont understand the need to call people out for faking pictures of being somewhere they dream of being I mean it really doesn't hurt anyone and it seems calling out people in nasty ways that obviously just have an intense desire for the means to go places seems kind of cruel
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
Because it absolutely does cause harm. Young impressionable people look at these (or the better done versions of these) and think 'I'm not good enough'. They'll do dangerous things to try and end up looking 'better' and if they don't end up physically ill they'll probably end up mentally ill. It's very f*****g harmful and anyone doing it should be called out on their nonsense.
Load More Replies...
Electric Ed 4 years ago
So much righteous hate and grandstandery here :( How about live and let live?
Carrie de Luka 4 years ago
Live and let live implies letting people be for who they really are. That is not what any of these people are about.
Load More Replies...
Country Nana 4 years ago
Okay, as a Jew I find that comment very offensive.
Load More Replies... chi-wei shen 4 years ago
Some of these pictures look like the result of a severe mental disorder. They need professional help in order to accept what they are.
Evelína Zlá 4 years ago
I would love to learn "The miraculous art of bending time, reality and space".... these ladies use.
Indecisive 4 years ago
I just want to say people are judging these post quite harshly but not taking the time to use empathy for what these people are going through. Society has made everyone believe they must be perfect and this is why people edit there photos its not that hard to have empathy or to understand these people and there choices
Belandriel 4 years ago
Most of these persons must be really very, very sick. I find this pretty sad.
deanna woods 4 years ago
If a person has to change themselves this much on social media, they need to talk to a therapist because they have some form of body dysmorphia. If they don't have body dysmorphia, they are just desperate for followers.
Blackheart 4 years ago
If more people would post what they actually look like, normal would be the new normal. We set such unrealistic expectations.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I agree. There is something severely wrong with the people who trawl the internet for pictures like that to "expose" the original posters too.
Load More Replies... Wada Kecha 4 years ago
I think some of these are just people trying to joke around. But the one's that aren't a joke are sad.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
They are a kind of visual proof aind indication of body dysmorphia though, that the person can't see how weird and distorted they look in these pictures and that nobody else is going to be fooled by them. They think they look fine, perfect in fact.
Beatrice Multhaupt 4 years ago
Set up an emergency fund to teach these guys some basic Photoshop skills!! Pronto!
Matthew Smith 4 years ago
That's modern life now, fake, fake and yes, FAKE! Why can't people be honest instead of showing us their fantasy?
KimChiLongTime 4 years ago
I think a lot of these people just have terrible eye sight. They literally have blurry vision and have no idea how f*****g stupid their posts look to everyone else.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Please, editors, if you're going to quote, give the appropriate attribution. Shakespeare, who preceded Tolkien, wrote what you finally got to: All that glitters is not gold.
Jo Choto 4 years ago
I wish someone could explain to me what this whole fake image/fake life is about. Like, why do people do it and why do other people follow it and aspire to it, especially knowing that it's pretty much all fake? It all seems so utterly pointless. I don't get it.
Country Nana 4 years ago
I don't understand it either. Why do they post themselves looking like that? What do they hope to gain from it? I could understand someone changing a photo for private use, a person could imagine they look that way, if that is their idea of beauty. But they can't be hoping to find a real lover or real friends this way. And the photo of the young couple - did one or both of them get involved with the photoshopping? Don't they really are each other and how they really look? Perhaps they think other people see the photos and think that the poster is rich and beautiful? But I still don't see how someone finds any satisfaction doing this.
Load More Replies... StealTheFruit 4 years ago
Everyone is pretty. No matter what, everyone is pretty. Maybe you have a big nose that you don't like? Well that kid in your science class loves big noses, and they think you're beautiful. Have you ever seen someone and thought how good they look, how nice their accessories are, or how cool their hair was? How often have you mentioned it to them? For most people, they don't mention it to the person often. Someone may have seen you and thought about how handsome you are, but never told you. You're your own kind of wonderful.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
It's so sad to see this among of people with severe trust issues. If they feel this need to edit as much, they should feel really bad about themselves. What will they do when they will grow old?Kill themselves? They really need help, posting pics like that should be forbidden, to avoid contagiosity.
richard hero 3 years ago
They want to look good to the people but they lose the reality sense😅
shalu saha 4 years ago
satta king online result platy and earn money... https://www.sattakingonlineresult.in/
Chris DiFonso 4 years ago
The altered outside photos are bad enough. What I totally cannot understand is the EXTREMELY photoshopped pics of people's bodies.
Parker Calyx Everett 4 years ago
For all of these I was just thinking of that interview when Katy Perry said “when they ask you how you are and you have to say you’re fine but you’re not really fine” i dont know why
That one rando 4 years ago
So many Catfishes in the world now like that's the bare minimum up there☹️
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Or you could just stop paying attention to complete and utter fools.
Chris Watson 4 years ago
Remember all this S**T when looking at anything shared by the media!!!
Ray Martin 4 years ago
I don't even care about these people, but the spelling, punctuation, and grammar makes me so frustrated I could scream.
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
When you have feelings that you are a s**t person and worth nothing, just come back and look at these pictures. It will put things into perspective. xx
goblin man 4 years ago
nothing boomers love more than making fun of young people on the internet <3
Val Izhakevich 4 years ago
The future looks evil. I'd advocate for some thorough prenatal screening.
Gilda 4 years ago
I dont understand the need to call people out for faking pictures of being somewhere they dream of being I mean it really doesn't hurt anyone and it seems calling out people in nasty ways that obviously just have an intense desire for the means to go places seems kind of cruel
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
Because it absolutely does cause harm. Young impressionable people look at these (or the better done versions of these) and think 'I'm not good enough'. They'll do dangerous things to try and end up looking 'better' and if they don't end up physically ill they'll probably end up mentally ill. It's very f*****g harmful and anyone doing it should be called out on their nonsense.
Load More Replies... Electric Ed 4 years ago
So much righteous hate and grandstandery here :( How about live and let live?
Carrie de Luka 4 years ago
Live and let live implies letting people be for who they really are. That is not what any of these people are about.
Load More Replies... Country Nana 4 years ago
Okay, as a Jew I find that comment very offensive.
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