Quit Comparing Yourself To TikToks And Instagram Reels, Because Those Can Now Be Photoshopped, Too
The everyday woman already had enough to compare herself to on social media.
From fake makeup on Facetune to endless photo filters on VSCO, it has been pretty easy for people around the globe to curate unrecognizable personas on social media.
Of course, we know that these edited images are totally bogus. But it is not always easy to spot an airbrushed photo here or a tweaked photo there while scrolling on Instagram.
And this grey area is exactly what leads people to question not just their appearance but overall worth and sense of accomplishment as human beings.
Now, though, social media users have but one more thing to be wary of– photoshopped video content.
Yep, that’s right– even videos have been corrupted by societal standards, too. Previously, it was insanely difficult for everyday people without design software backgrounds to sculpt their bodies in moving footage.
So, videos used to be the holy grail of truth, fighting back against the fakeness of Instagram and Facebook photos.
But, that time has come and gone– because many photoshopping apps now offer a video tool option. And the odds are that you have seen plenty of videos posted by celebrities and influencers who took advantage of it.
Plus, if you are thinking, “How real could a sculpted video actually look?” well, one creator and motivational speaker named Victoria Garrick revealed just how easy it could be to fall for fake footage.
opolja – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
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Victoria was a Division I college athlete who first gained a social media following by exposing the unrealistic expectations of females in sports. And since then, she has gone on to amass over 1.2 million followers on TikTok, delivers TED Talks around the country, and even launched her own Real Pod podcast discussing everything from mental health to relationships.
But, just a month ago, Victoria shared a TikTok that completely stunned the social media community.
The video starts by showing herself donning an adorable blue bikini and posing in front of a wall. However, while followers of Victoria might notice that she looks completely different than her normal self, those who have never seen her before would likely see no problem.
Instead, they might just assume this was yet another creator showing off their outfit of the day or sharing a bikini haul.
But then, after eight seconds, Victoria turned the video editing filter off and showed the world just how easy it is to change your body’s shape, volume, and more.
The scariest part? Victoria was able to spin and move around freely without us ever catching a hint of distortion.
This means that anyone you know could be thinning their torsos, elongating their legs, and airbrushing their blemishes away in video content posted on TikTok, Instagram Reels, Youtube, and more.
And many social media users who learned this from Victoria’s video were utterly terrified. The TikTok garnered a whopping 4.2 million views, gained over five hundred and sixty thousand likes, and spurred fifteen hundred comments.
“I never even knew this was possible! Thank you for educating,” wrote one user.
“This is so sad. We are all conditioned to see stuff that is not really possible as normal,” added a second user.
“Wow, I did not even know that was you at first,” said a third.
But sadly, it appears that even content creators who are trying to fight against these editing tactics are not getting through to some people– because, despite the message about how harmful these videos can be, countless commenters still badgered Victoria for the name of the app she used.
“That’s crazy… what’s the app?” asked one commenter.
“Bro, someone just say what the app is,” pressured another.
“What’s the app, bestie,” wrote a third.
Victoria has since refused to give up the app name, and rightfully so. However, she did reveal that on the app store, the software she used is available for download by anyone over four years old and up– yet another terrifying threat facing kids today.
Regardless, though, the point is that the next time you see someone who looks utterly flawless online, you cannot trust it. And we can only hope that informing people about this newfound seed of doubt will move us one step closer to the end of social media comparison games.
To watch Victoria’s original TikTok, visit the link here.
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