“Can’t Take The Filters Outside”: 49 Times People Tried To Fake It On Social Media But Fooled No One (New Pics)
- - “Can’t Take The Filters Outside”: 49 Times People Tried To Fake It On Social Media But Fooled No One (New Pics)
Aurelija RakauskaitėOctober 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
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Social media can seem like one massive magic show... Except, instead of rabbits coming out of hats, it's waists that have been snatched, cheekbones rising from nowhere, or frown-lines vanishing without the use of Botox or a painful facelift.
With just enough Photoshop, Facetune, and a filter (or five), people have been morphing from ordinary humans into glowing, flawless creatures who look like they've just stepped out of a video game. Whether it's living and breathing Barbies or lips that look like they've just lost a fight with a bee, social media is filled with photos that might have had us fooled had reality not reared its less-than-perfect head.
Bored Panda has compiled a list of the most hilarious and embarrassing times people tried too hard to catfish the internet, and got caught in the act. Many of these social media vs reality fails prove that while filters might blur the truth, they can't erase the sheer audacity (and comedy) that comes with fooling no one.
#1 I've Been Waiting For Sunday, It's Time For More Honesty Online
Image credits: CarbonBasedB**h
We might laugh at some of the audacious, over-edited images in this compilation. But the over-use of editing tools and apps is quite a serious matter...
85% of girls have applied filters or used an app to change the way they look in their photos - before they even turned 13. And 67% of girls have tried to change, or hide, at least one body part before posting a photo of themselves to social media.
That's according to the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which aims to promote confidence and body positivity among young girls.
#2 The Reflection Says Her Hips *Do* Lie
Image credits: Hamburglar_burglar
#3 Must Be Her Sister In The Car
Image credits: reddit.com
"Although certain aspects of social media can promote connection and well-being, in recent years dozens of scientific studies have shown that social media can negatively influence body confidence, mood, and self-esteem,” warns body image expert, Professor Phillippa Diedrichs, who is a Research Psychologist at the Centre of Appearance Research at the University of West England.
Diedrichs explains that this happens when users spend significant amounts of time posting selfies, using editing apps and filters to alter their appearance, comparing themselves to others, and seeking validation through comments and likes.
"It’s therefore imperative that we help young people to develop skills to navigate social media in a healthy and productive way,” the expert said.
#4 Media vs. Reality
Image credits: withloveshell
#5 His Instagram vs. TV Screenshot
Image credits: Jaded_Protection7300
#6 Can’t Take The Filters Outside
Image credits: kangalbabe2
The age of Facetuning has brought us something known as Snapchat dysmorphia. If you've never heard of it, it's a medical phenomenon whereby social media filters have led to a rising number of women going to plastic surgeons asking to look like the filtered versions of themselves.
“Previously, patients would come into clinics with pictures of celebrities or models they admired and wanted to look like,” explains Dr Esho, cosmetic doctor at The Esho Clinic. “But with the introduction of social platforms and filters over the last five years, more and more patients come into clinics with filtered versions of themselves as the goal they want to achieve."
#7 Instagram vs. Reality TV. She Claims To Be 27
Image credits: LivinLikeASloth
#8 Instagram vs. Reality TV
Image credits: 12mediumSizedDucks
#9 Running For Local Office
Image credits: Proof-Sun-4857
A British photographer called Rankin once explored the harmful effects of retouching apps in his photo series titled “Selfie Harm.”
Rankin photographed a group of teenagers and then asked them to edit their own portrait until it was “social media ready.” What he discovered was that many of the participants seemed to magnify their eyes and overplump their lips.
“It’s so simple, almost like creating a cartoon character of yourself,” Rankin said. “These filters are something very new and, in my opinion, a lot more dangerous. What’s even scarier is that there’s little or no debate happening around this. Something like Photoshop, which is a much more complex and inaccessible program, is actually part of a huge social ethical discussion.”
#10 Instagram Picture vs. Interview Two Weeks Apart
Image credits: shane-jabroni
#11 This Person Is Running For Mayor Where I Live. Yikes
Image credits: e_lime_pie
#12 Most People In The Comments Genuinely Believe It's "Just Makeup"
Image credits: PresidentBasil9187
"What’s interesting is that the individuals didn’t necessarily like or prefer the edited versions of themselves, but simply felt the retouched image would garner more likes on their social media platforms," notes Fashionroundtable.co.uk.
During the project, none of the girls left their photos unedited. But the majority said they preferred the untouched images.
#13 I’m Sensing A Filter
Image credits: OriginalGSpot
#14 Pisses Me Off To See Edits Like These Because Clients Then Expect Makeup To Work Like Plastic Surgery That Will Remove Wrinkles
Image credits: mnlxyz
#15 It Doesn’t Even Look Like The Same Person
Image credits: chookitty_o
“Today’s generation can’t escape ‘the Truman effect’ because from birth they are born into an age of social platforms where their feelings of self-worth can be based purely on the number of likes and followers that they have, which is linked to how good they look or how great these images are," warns cosmetic surgeon Dr. Esho.
“It’s time to acknowledge the damaging effects that social media has on people’s self-image,” adds Rankin on Instagram. “It’s just another reason why we are living in a world of FOMO, sadness, increased anxiety, and Snapchat dysmorphia.”
#16 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: insomniagirl
#17 The Caption Is Ironic
Image credits: Harbinger0fdeathIVXX
#18 Instagram vs. Dating Show
Image credits: superginseng
#19 The Power Of Makeup And Filters
Image credits: nokia621
#20 A German Reality TV Star On Instagram vs. On TV
Image credits: little_mermaid1998
#21 What She Posted vs. What The Makeup Artist Posted
Image credits: ilovemuesli
#22 Selfie Filter Queen
Image credits: mcv_inmia
#23 Instagram Versus Podcast
Image credits: hellokittygirl78
#24 OP Posted This To Show How Much Better She Looks After “Taking Care Of Herself”
Image credits: diveonfire
#25 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: tfdcvkgccnligc
#26 Her Instagram V.s. Whistleblower's Photo
Image credits: reddit.com
#27 Insta vs. Reality. Well, I Always Imagined Her To Be As Beautiful As She Is On Instagram
Image credits: iaminsta3
#28 Mom Of A Model Desperate To Out-Do Her Daughter
Image credits: baby_spice444
#29 TikTok vs. Fan Photo
Image credits: Amazing-Brick-4101
#30 Instagram Picture vs. Livestream
Image credits: some_kind_of_onion
#31 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: squeakheart
#32 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: mbtiandstuffz
#33 Blogger From My Country On Instagram vs. In Reality Show
Image credits: Justolliehere
#34 Instagram vs. Reality. She Says She "Has A New Makeup Artist"
Image credits: Magistraliter
#35 Instagram vs. Reality Of This Swedish Reality-TV Star
Image credits: a-dense-mf
#36 Instagram vs. Screenshots Of Recent Interview
Image credits: peeeeepoo
#37 Well, At Least One Of The Women Posted The Realistic Version
Image credits: tzssao
#38 Seen On A Hairdresser/Mua Instagram. Poor Girl Because She’s Very Beautiful
Image credits: crazynesz
#39 I Swear I Thought Based On Insta That This Woman Was A Femme Fatale
Image credits: Remarkable_Proof_710
#40 “But It's Really Me, No Filter”
Image credits: OralRedenbacher
#41 This Is Wild
Image credits: Far-Tie-1120
#42 Her Instagram vs. Her Tagged Photos :o
Image credits: shinymakeup
#43 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: crazynesz
#44 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: Suitable-Shoe-5028
#45 When Instagram Famous Gonna Youtube
Image credits: leopardius
#46 Instagram Selfie With Skin Texturizing vs. Candid Video In Someone Else’s Story. Photo Is From Two Months Ago, Video Is From Last Week
Image credits: Longjumping_Camel256
#47 On TV vs. On Instagram
Image credits: endlessdaysofsummer
#48 This Famous Influencer
Image credits: Amyfrye5555
#49 Instagram vs. Reality
Image credits: HonestImpress
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
