In today’s social media-driven world, it’s no surprise that many people edit their photos before sharing them online. Whether it’s smoothing out imperfections, slimming down bodies, or enhancing the background, photo editing has become the norm. However, some edits go far beyond simple touch-ups and veer into extreme alterations, making individuals appear unrecognizable compared to reality.
This is where a unique online community steps in, dedicated to calling out Instagrammers who push editing to absurd extremes, offering before-and-after comparisons that reveal the true extent of these alterations.
The Rise of the “Instagram Reality” Subreddit
A quick scroll through social media can easily make you feel like you’re falling short. Everyone seems perfectly happy and flawless, living in a seemingly perfect world. But it’s important to remember that what you see online is often just a curated snapshot, not the full story. To shine a light on this, we introduce you to the subreddit Instagram Reality.
With over 1.2 million members, this community is committed to exposing heavily edited images, unveiling the unrealistic nature of many online photos. It serves as a valuable reminder that there’s always more to a story than what meets the eye.
1. What She Posted vs. What He Posted
In a striking comparison, a woman shared an image on Instagram that portrayed her in a highly edited, flawless light, with smooth skin and perfect proportions. However, when the man who was with her posted the same photo, the unedited version showed a much more natural and authentic portrayal of both of them.
2. No Words, None
Sometimes, certain images speak for themselves, leaving viewers stunned into silence. In one instance, a heavily edited photo was shared that was so exaggerated and unrealistic, it prompted an immediate reaction of disbelief. The alterations were so extreme—transforming the person in the photo into something almost unrecognizable—that no words were needed to express how absurd the image was.
3. When You Skip Left Arm Day On Photoshop?
One of the most humorous and revealing examples of extreme photo editing is the “When You Skip Left Arm Day On Photoshop?” post. In this case, the person’s left arm was clearly edited out or resized to an unnatural extent, making it look noticeably smaller or even absent compared to the rest of their body.
4. She Looks Better Without Editing the Photos
In some cases, the raw, unedited version of a photo can be far more beautiful than the heavily edited one. One user shared a comparison where the unaltered image showed Khloé Kardashian in a natural, confident pose, looking radiant without the artificial tweaks that slimmed her body or smoothed her skin. The edited version, on the other hand, appeared overly perfected, stripping away the authentic charm and warmth that was present in the original.
5. What She Posted vs. The Clinic
In a striking contrast, one Instagrammer shared a photo that presented her with an impossibly smooth, slim body, enhanced through heavy editing. However, when the same woman’s photos were compared to the ones taken in a clinical setting, the difference was clear. The edited image bore no resemblance to the unfiltered, natural version captured in the clinic.
6. Come On…Seriously?!?
Some edited photos are so over-the-top that they defy all logic and realism, leaving viewers asking, “Come on…seriously?!?” One such image featured exaggerated edits that distorted proportions to unnatural levels, making it impossible to believe anyone thought it looked realistic. From warped backgrounds to impossibly smooth features, the alterations were so extreme that the final result looked more like a caricature than a person.
7. The Proportions and the Face Are Just Not Human
In one jaw-dropping example, an Instagram post featured edits so extreme that the person’s proportions and facial features appeared entirely unnatural. The head was dramatically reshaped, and the body was contorted to create an exaggerated hourglass figure that defied anatomy. The result was a figure that looked more like a computer-generated avatar than a real human being.
8. Posted And Tagged
One of the most telling moments in revealing over-the-top photo edits comes from the contrast between what someone posts and what they’re tagged in by others. In one instance, an influencer posted a polished, flawless image of herself, but the tagged photo from the same event told a completely different story.
9. She Posts A Lotta Videos So I Didn’t Expect This Stark Of A Difference
One surprising revelation came from an influencer who regularly shares videos alongside her photos. Given the dynamic nature of videos, many followers assumed her appearance was authentic. However, a side-by-side comparison between her heavily edited photos and her unaltered videos revealed a stark difference.
Read More: Edited Image of Harry and Meghan’s Children Causes Uproar Among Fans
10. I Was Checking Out Tagged Photos Of A Restaurant And Stumbled Upon This
While browsing tagged photos of a restaurant, one user came across a striking example of extreme photo editing. The image featured a heavily altered individual whose appearance was drastically different from reality, as revealed in other unedited pictures from the same event. The unrealistic edits included unnaturally smooth skin and exaggerated facial features, creating a surreal and almost cartoonish look.
11. She Uses This Filter Not Only For Her But For Everyone Else
One Instagrammer took her love for filters to a whole new level by not only editing her own appearance but also applying the same heavy filter to everyone in her photos. This led to comically unrealistic group pictures, with everyone sporting identical airbrushed skin, exaggerated facial features, and unnatural tones.
12. Why Do People Edit Their Heads So Small? Her Hand Is Literally Twice The Size
In one baffling example of over-editing, a woman’s photo showed her with an impossibly tiny head, creating a wildly disproportionate look. To make matters worse, her hand appeared twice the size of her head, making the edit even more comical and absurd. This extreme distortion raises the question: why go to such unrealistic lengths in editing?
13. Her Left Brow Has An Escape Plan
In a hilariously exaggerated example of poor photo editing, one Instagram post showed a woman whose left eyebrow seemed to be “escaping” her face. The brow was positioned unnaturally high and overlapped her arm, creating an odd, asymmetrical appearance that was impossible to ignore. Whether it was an overuse of filters or a botched manual edit, the result was both comical and baffling.
14. Genuinely Disturbed By Her Appearance Every Time It Crosses My Path
One user shared their experience of repeatedly encountering a local woman on dating apps who heavily edits her photos. Her online images present an entirely different version of herself, with overly smoothed skin, exaggerated features, and unrealistic proportions.
15. Her Posts Have Seriously Helped Me Feel Better About My Body! Love Seeing These Types Of Photos
In a refreshing twist, one Instagrammer’s unedited photos have inspired positive self-esteem among her followers. By posting realistic images that showcase her natural body, she breaks away from the heavily filtered and retouched norms of social media. One follower even shared how seeing her unfiltered photos helped them feel better about their own body, appreciating the authenticity and relatability.
16. A Little Side Head
In one amusing example of extreme photo editing, an Instagram post featured a person whose head appeared strangely shifted to one side, creating a bizarre and unrealistic look. The unnatural positioning, likely the result of excessive editing or a misused filter, left viewers puzzled and amused.
17. She Posted Photos From A Photoshoot, Then The Photographer Posted The Originals
A stark contrast was revealed when a woman shared highly edited photos from her professional photoshoot, only for the photographer to later post the unaltered originals. Her edited versions featured exaggerated smoothness, dramatic slimming, and enhancements that completely transformed her appearance. The originals, however, showcased her natural beauty without the digital tweaks.
18. Twin Reality TV Star’s Instagram Post vs. Tagged Story Post…
A reality TV star’s Instagram post presented a highly curated and flawless version of herself, complete with smooth skin and perfectly aligned features. However, when a tagged story from the same event surfaced, the difference was striking. In the tagged photo, her appearance was far more natural, with visible imperfections and a more relatable look.
19. Found By A Friend In The Wild: Filter Madness
One user shared a hilarious story about stumbling upon a friend’s social media post that was so heavily filtered, it seemed almost unrecognizable. The photo, taken in a natural setting, was transformed with extreme edits—smooth, flawless skin, unrealistic proportions, and an overly airbrushed look.
Read More: Artists Depicts What European Countries Look Like to Him, and They’re Hilarious
20. Legs For Days!
One Instagram post showcased a user with legs that seemed impossibly long, thanks to heavy editing that stretched her limbs beyond natural proportions. The photo, while striking, looked more like a surreal, digital creation than an authentic image. The exaggerated length of her legs highlighted the lengths some individuals go to in order to create an idealized appearance, leading viewers to question how far is too far when it comes to photo manipulation.
21. The Way This Is Not A Parody Account…
In one instance, a social media account posted a heavily edited photo that was so extreme, it seemed like it could be a parody of over-the-top Instagram edits. The image featured exaggerated proportions. However, despite the absurdity, the account wasn’t a joke—it was an actual profile, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
22. Need Help Reaching The Top Shelf?
In one hilarious example of photo editing, a user posted an image where her arm was stretched to an absurd length, making it seem like she could easily reach the top shelf without a ladder. The extreme edit exaggerated the proportions of her arm to an unrealistic degree.
23. I vs. R
Kylie Jenner has frequently been called out for her extreme use of Photoshop and filters in her Instagram photos. Many of her images show dramatic alterations, including slimmer waistlines, smoother skin, and reshaped facial features, leading to frequent debates about the authenticity of her online persona.
24. How Anything Thinks This Extreme Photo Shopping Looks Good/Believable Is Beyond Me
The question many viewers ask is: how can anyone genuinely think these alterations are convincing or attractive? The gap between reality and the edited version becomes so wide that it’s almost impossible to take the image seriously, yet these kinds of photos continue to be shared, highlighting the absurdity of chasing unattainable, digitally perfected ideals.
25. Something Is Very Wrong Here
When scrolling through some heavily edited photos, it’s impossible to ignore when something just feels off. In one instance, a photo featured an individual with exaggerated proportions, an impossibly smooth face, and distorted lighting that didn’t match the surroundings. The result was so unnatural that it immediately raised the question, “What’s going on here?”
26. A Totally Real Body For Sure
In one striking example of over-editing, an Instagram post showcased a body so impossibly altered that it was almost laughable. The photo featured extreme curves, a cinched waist, and proportions that defied all anatomical logic. While intended to project an idealized image, the unrealistic edits made it obvious that the body was far from natural.
27. Back In Black
An Instagram post labeled “Back in Black” showcased yet another instance of extreme photo editing gone wrong. The individual featured in the photo had heavily altered their appearance, with unnaturally smooth skin and exaggerated body proportions that created an almost doll-like effect. While the sleek, dark outfit was meant to make a bold statement, the excessive edits distracted from the intended aesthetic.
28. She Swears She’s A Baddie
In one over-the-top example, an Instagrammer’s post featured heavily edited photos where she proclaimed herself a “baddie.” However, the extreme alterations, including dramatically slimmed features and flawless, plastic-like skin, told a different story. While her edits were likely meant to amplify her confidence, the unrealistic results sparked more skepticism than admiration.
29. This Woman I Met Years Ago Posting Progressively Weirder Stuff On Facebook
A user shared how a woman they met years ago has been posting increasingly bizarre content on Facebook. Her photos have become progressively more edited, with exaggerated features, distorted proportions, and an almost cartoonish quality that’s far from natural.
30. How Can They Smell Without Nostrils
In a particularly absurd example of over-editing, a photo surfaced where the individual’s nose was so heavily airbrushed that their nostrils were nearly invisible. The smooth, featureless appearance turned what should have been a normal portrait into a strange and unsettling image. The lack of nostrils not only made the edit unrealistic but also raised the obvious question: how can they even smell?
31. This Makes Me So Sad. There’s So Many Things Wrong About This
One post highlighted an edited photo so extreme that it sparked more sadness than amusement. The image featured exaggerated alterations—unrealistic proportions, overly smoothed skin, and distorted features—all masking the person’s natural beauty. The excessive editing reflected a deeper issue: the pressure to conform to unattainable beauty standards.
32. What She Posts vs. What She Looks Like Irl
One comparison revealed a striking difference between a woman’s carefully curated Instagram posts and her real-life appearance. Her social media images featured flawless skin, perfect proportions, and dramatic enhancements, while candid photos showed a far more natural and relatable version of herself.
33. Pic By Photographer vs. Pic From Her Instagram
A side-by-side comparison between a professional photographer’s unedited photo and the version posted on her Instagram revealed drastic differences. The original image captured her natural beauty, while her edited version featured dramatically slimmed features, flawless skin, and enhanced curves that weren’t present in the original.
34. Mother/Daughter? Nope, The Same Person
In a shocking display of extreme editing, one Instagram post featured a woman who looked so drastically different in two images that viewers mistook them for a mother and daughter duo. The edited version showed a flawless, youthful appearance, while the unedited version reflected her actual age and natural beauty.
35. My 60 Something Year Old Aunt Discovered Filters And Promptly Lost Her Nose
A user shared a humorous yet perplexing story about their aunt, who, after discovering social media filters, posted a photo where her nose seemed to vanish entirely. The heavy smoothing effect from the filter left her face looking unnaturally flat and overly airbrushed, erasing key facial features like her nostrils.
36. Found One In The Wilds Of My Ig Feed
While casually scrolling through their Instagram feed, one user stumbled upon a post that was so heavily edited it seemed almost unreal. The image featured distorted proportions and an overly smooth face that looked like it had been digitally altered beyond recognition.
37. Posted vs. Tagged
A striking contrast emerged when comparing an individual’s carefully edited Instagram post to a tagged photo from the same event. The Instagram version showcased a flawless, airbrushed appearance with smooth skin and a slimmer figure, while the tagged photo revealed a more natural look with visible imperfections and a more realistic portrayal of her body.
38. People Love To Look Ai Generated
In a curious trend, some social media users are increasingly opting for edits that make them look more like AI-generated characters than real people. With smooth, featureless skin, exaggerated proportions, and perfect symmetry, these images often resemble digital avatars rather than authentic representations.
39. People In The Comments Are Insisting It’s Real…
In one particularly baffling example, an edited photo so extreme that it seemed almost cartoonish was met with a flood of comments insisting it was real. Despite the exaggerated proportions, overly smoothed skin, and unnatural lighting, some followers remained convinced that the image was an authentic portrayal of the person.
Read More: Designer Has The Best Reply When People Ask to Photoshop Their Pics
40. I Love Hear
In one curious case of editing gone wrong, a user posted a photo with a caption that read “I love hear,” likely meant to express her missing ear. However, the photo itself was so heavily edited that the focus shifted entirely to the strange, unnatural appearance of the subject.
41. Travel-Fluencer Simply Photoshopped Herself Into The Location. 1m+ Followers
A travel influencer with over a million followers was recently caught photoshopping herself into exotic locations, creating the illusion that she had visited stunning destinations when, in reality, she hadn’t. Instead of posting authentic travel experiences, she used digital manipulation to insert herself into popular landmarks and picturesque settings.
42. Ok Is It Just Me Or Did She Photoshop Herself In Front Of A Crowd
In a particularly obvious case of over-editing, a user posted a photo where it seemed like the individual had photoshopped herself into a crowd, making it look as though she was surrounded by people at a major event. However, upon closer inspection, the crowd appeared oddly blurry and out of focus, a clear sign that the image had been altered.
43. This Is Insane!
In a jaw-dropping instance of extreme photo manipulation, two people in a shared photo were drastically altered to look unnaturally slimmer. The waistlines were unnervingly tightened, and their overall proportions were distorted, making them appear far thinner than in real life. The result was so extreme that viewers couldn’t help but comment, “This is insane!”
44. The Background Is So Bad, Everyone Is Calling It Out In The Comments
One edited photo quickly caught attention for all the wrong reasons—while the subject looked flawless, the background was an obvious mess of poorly edited elements. The lighting didn’t match, the edges were blurry, and parts of the scene seemed out of place. It didn’t take long for users to flood the comments, pointing out the glaring issues with the background.
45. Found On Facebook
A striking image appeared on Facebook, where a woman, claimed to be a “grandma at 52,” looked shockingly youthful, far younger than her actual age. The photo was heavily edited, with smooth skin, exaggerated features, and an almost flawless complexion that suggested a digital makeover rather than natural beauty.
46. Do People Really Think This Is Normal?
A heavily edited photo surfaced that was so distorted, it made viewers question whether others genuinely believed such extreme alterations were normal. The subject’s proportions were unnaturally slim, and features were airbrushed to the point where they no longer resembled a real person.
47. Mom Come Pick Me Up I’m Scared
One photo circulating online showed an extreme example of over-editing that left viewers both shocked and scared. The subject’s body had been manipulated so drastically—overly smooth skin, distorted proportions, and surreal features—that it seemed more like a horror show than a typical social media post.
48. Ouch
One photo circulated online showing a “big girl” with an unnaturally slimmed waist, clearly edited to give her a distorted hourglass shape. The extreme waist-tightening was so noticeable that it immediately raised suspicions of heavy photo editing. With no original version to compare it to, the edited image presented a highly fake and unattainable body ideal.
49. The Number Of Likes Though
A heavily edited photo with an unrealistic, idealized appearance racked up an impressive number of likes, despite its obvious editing. The image featured extreme alterations, from an unnaturally slimmed waist to smooth, flawless skin, making the subject look almost unrecognizable. Yet, the photo still received thousands of likes, raising the question of why such heavily edited images continue to gain so much validation.
50. Found This One In The Wild. How The Hell Do People Think This Is Real?
While scrolling through social media, one user came across an image so heavily edited it was nearly unrecognizable. The subject’s proportions were distorted, and the lighting was so unnatural that it was clear the photo had been manipulated to an extreme degree.
In a world where social media often blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, it’s essential to recognize the extent of photo editing that takes place behind the scenes. The extreme edits shown in these examples serve as a reminder of the pressures people face to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. While it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of likes and validation, it’s important to remember that what we see online isn’t always the truth. Authenticity should always outweigh perfection, and it’s crucial to embrace real, unfiltered versions of ourselves.
