To not understand how everyone on insta and tiktok is so beautiful

[Travellingminimouse]

Is it really just filters? I know a lot of them are young which probably helps but when I look around in real life most people are just normal. I rarely see people I would say are exceptionally attractive - is that because they are all too busy posting on social media to be out and about?!

On insta / tik tok they are everywhere, these people who look like models. No wonder it is so detrimental for our young people because it’s making me feel bad about myself and really I’m old enough to know better.

AIBU to just not understand how it’s possible? They can’t all be filtered?

I literally never see anybody good looking walking around

It's all fake

Like others have said its filters, fillers, botox, makeup.

I keep seeing posts on threads saying things like "let's normalise grey hair and fine lines at 40+." Followed by a gazillion photos of people in their 40s and above which have clearly used filters, thus defeating the point of the post.

Two-fold reason:

1- It’s a self-selective sample you are seeing. Beautiful people post themselves and WANT to post themselves. It of course doesn’t apply to all, but if you are above-average in attractiveness, you will less likely have qualms about posting pictures of yourself on social media, you can capitalise on your looks, make some spare cash, get an endless ego boost from comments telling you how hot you look and you can start trends for fashion, beauty and make-up. You’ve been hot all your life and you like being hot. You know people find you hot. People like looking at beautiful people and people listen to beautiful people about beauty, makeup and clothes. The vast majority of the female general public (me included) - in other words people who either average, or aren't as genetically blessed as supermodels will not be posting endless pictures of them in bikinis or in white sundresses on the Riviera.

2- Lots of filters, makeup, blowdries lighting and AI. A lot of these girls will be taking hundreds of photos of themselves just to get one good one at the right angle. It’s very rarely a candid shot. Even “spontaneous” shots are heavily curated and prepared. They will be posting pictures of themselves when they look optimally flawless and from a flattering angle.

Sadly I’m not a beautiful person so nobody wants to see my goods but even if I were, it sounds like an exhausting life!! 🤣

It’s called filters. HTH.

I’m not attractive so I don’t have a TikTok account as I wouldn’t want people to see me! I’m guessing people who are attractive realise they can make money from it. I realise I am not attractive hence why I don’t try to make money from it.
you can apply the same to other characteristics that make money, eg funny (comedian), intelligent (opinion pages, psychology), physically fit (fitness), a good cook (nutrition).
My insta is very very varied. I think perhaps your algorithms only show you beauty/fashion content.

there are plenty of people on my insta who are there for other talents and their attractiveness is irrelevant.

Tbh I thought it was only me who had grown old when I look at contemporaries on insta. They remain wrinkle free, think Nicole Kidman, and have denture teeth, a la Simon Cowell. I think I look pretty dire but surprisingly get compliments. Perhaps its because I look unthreateningly real (and my actual age)

Recently my gs's were chatting to someone and when asked who it was, they looked at me as if I was mad and told me it was a distant relative. I can say hand on heart they bore no resemblance remotely to their online pics. I do wear glasses but I cant be that far wrong, can I.

There is a great app I think it’s called remeni
you upload photos and pick a scene / outfit so beach mountains London Eiffel Tower and the app filters the pic puts you in the pic

some of the pics I’ve took with it are actually pretty good and do look like me just a more polished version but not fake

Agree with all of that.

My dog in real life, and my dog on Instagram

Gorgeous puppy! But it's heinous what the Instagram filter has done!! He looks like a cartoon version of himself. Disney dog 😥

You hit the nail on the head. It isn't a filter, I purposely gave AI the first photo and told it to make him into a Disney dog for comedic effect. (I'd done this a while ago, not for this post, but for something else).

I too prefer him in real life, although sadly he is no longer of this world.

ETA - thank you for the compliment though, he was very gorgeous.

To echo everyone else: filters, photo editing….and very clever makeup and lighting tricks.

So many makeup tutorial videos out there are simply not wearable in real life because the contouring etc is done to work with the poster’s clever lighting 🫠😂
Try showing up to work like that and it ends up looking like you’ve tried to turn yourself into a tiger at a kids’ face painting party 🫣😂

Makeup, filters, youth, plus a lot of money into looking good.

It's nothing new really. When I was a teenager, we all had terrible self esteem as we were comparing ourselves to the photos in the stupid teen magazines we all read, with gorgeous models and infinite dieting ideas.

@MarvellousMonsters Just in case you haven't realised, those links show your Insta account, it comes up with 'XXX has shared this with you'

It’s not always filters ffs. It’s called posing - a trick as old as time. Before filters were invented common knowledge was that certain poses made you look thinner or lighting was more flattering. People are creating content where they look their best. You can look like that in real life too if you pose

Probably mostly filters but on the other hand, I'm a hideous old bag and used to be a hideous young bag, but I have a few flattering photos taken purely by chance. Lighting and angle can be transformative

I’m not! 🤣

People do it on their Teams profile pics at work. To a ridiculous extent. Those who actually show up to a meeting are unrecognisable. It feels like I'm being catfished at work.

as well as the filter thing, if you're looking at lots of pictures of people looking beautiful, the algorithms will show you more and more!

I agree filters are a big thing.

But also, it’s like saying why is everyone in a magazine beautiful? Looks contribute to success!

A lot of people I follow look pretty normal, but that’s a result of the accounts I follow.

Lovely dog.

Dogs are gorgeous ❤️

I bet you're not a prized oil painting.

some utterly gross comments on this thread, by women, as always.

Filters, AI, make up, people who make the best of themselves, people who are naturally attractive. It attracts attractive people - if you aren’t attractive you’re more likely to want to post content, and more likely to be viewed.

Just quoting this so @MarvellousMonsters sees it (🤞)

Yes it’s all filters, we all look gorgeous with filters.