You’ve probably heard it a hundred times: what you see online isn’t always real. That flawless hourglass figure? Likely touched up. That dreamy sunset bursting with color? Color-grading magic. With filters, poses, lighting tricks, and editing apps just a tap away, the line between real life and curated content keeps getting blurrier. Highlighting exactly this, the Bored Panda team rounded up some eye-opening “Instagram vs. reality” photos from across the internet, all focused on those dreamy travel shots. You know the kind: someone twirling in front of a crystal-clear lake, hair flowing, not a soul in sight until you realize the real version includes a dozen other tourists, a boat honking in the distance, and a guy casually eating chips just out of frame. Keep scrolling to see the magic and the mayhem behind those perfect posts! #1 Image credits: roemer_productions #2 Image credits: roemer_productions #3 Image credits: roemer_productions Ever find yourself wondering how everything looks so perfect on social media? From dreamy office views to vacation pics that seem pulled straight from a travel brochure, sometimes it all feels just a bit too flawless. Well, editing, filters, setups, it’s all part of the show. And it turns out it’s not just selfies and landscapes getting the glow-up. To understand how much goes into these picture-perfect posts, we spoke with Parth Kothari, co-founder of MunchyMumbai, a buzzing food-blogging page with over 167k followers. Parth begins, “People usually think it’s only selfies and vacation pics that are edited. But honestly, we also have to edit food photos.” And not just a little. It’s a whole art. The camera doesn’t always capture the deliciousness the way our eyes do. So, some magic is added to make the viewer hungry. #4 Image credits: roemer_productions #5 Image credits: roemer_productions #6 Image credits: asasteinars “In the beginning, we’d just play with color and lighting,” Parth explains. “We wanted the food to look fresh and appealing, not dull or off-color. No one wants to scroll past a sad-looking samosa.” The goal was always to capture the real thing, just the tastiest, most tempting version of it. “We never made it fake,” he adds. “We just helped the food shine a little brighter on camera.” #7 Image credits: qeeq.com #8 Image credits: nonn.j #9 Image credits: roemer_productions Over time, though, the game leveled up. “Now, there are so many new elements,” Parth continues. “The background, props, lighting setup, even the angle of the spoon, all of it matters. We make sure every part of the photo works in sync. From the first scroll to the final swipe, every detail has to look just right.” Because in today’s world, food styling is part creativity, part strategy. Things got even more precise when brand deals started rolling in. “Once brands start paying you,” Parth says, “you can’t wing it anymore. They have specific visions and expectations. Every photo needs to fit into a campaign or vibe they’ve already built. And we totally get that, it’s their product, their story.” #10 Image credits: travel.reality #11 Image credits: travel.reality #12 Image credits: sarahyak_ “It’s a lot like making a movie,” he explains. “In films, actors have stylists, lighting experts, and makeup artists to look perfect for a role. For us, the food is the star. We treat every item, be it a burger, smoothie, or plate of fries as if it’s heading to the red carpet. Everything needs to be styled, lit, and shot to fit the brief.” It’s serious business and surprisingly artistic too. #13 Image credits: carlagoesabroad #14 Image credits: charleyandbiagio #15 Image credits: due_zaini_in_viaggio “Take burgers, for example,” Parth laughs. “In commercials, the patty looks super juicy and crisp, right? That’s because we use clever tricks, like brushing it with oil or using steam to make it look fresh.” It’s all about highlighting the textures and layers. Lettuce fluffed, sesame seeds arranged just so, cheese melted at the right angle, it’s more setup than snack. #16 Image credits: roemer_productions #17 Image credits: roemer_productions #18 Image credits: roemer_productions And then there’s cold coffee. “To get it looking just right,” Parth shares, “we sometimes use fake ice cubes that won’t melt under studio lights. Real ice turns cloudy or disappears too fast." "These tricks keep the coffee looking icy and delicious all through the shoot.” The goal is to create an image that instantly makes you crave a sip, even if the glass itself is not exactly ready to drink. #19 Image credits: roemer_productions #20 Image credits: roemer_productions #21 Image credits: thepetitewanderer “Of course,” he adds, “the food we feature is absolutely delicious. We never fake the taste. But for the campaign or Instagram feed, it has to look a certain way. People eat with their eyes first. If something looks bland or flat, they won’t even read the caption. So yes, a little styling goes a long way. It’s not deception, it’s presentation.” #22 Image credits: travelguyss #23 Image credits: chronically44 #24 Image credits: joe_smith2002 “So, while not everything you see online is 100% raw and unfiltered, that doesn’t mean it’s fake either. It just means there’s more happening behind the scenes than meets the eye. A little lighting, some props, maybe even a sneaky ice cube or two. It’s all part of telling a story. The next time you see a drool-worthy dish online, just know a lot of thought probably went into it,” Parth concludes. #25 Image credits: mathildedldr #26 Image credits: roemer_productions #27 Image credits: roemer_productions And it’s not just food photos; these posts show how travel pics go through their own glow-up too. From removing the crowd to adjusting the sky to just the right shade of dreamy, a lot happens before that snap lands on your feed. Which one of these posts surprised you the most? Or made you laugh a little louder than you expected? Share it with someone who needs that reminder that even the most “effortless” photos sometimes take, well, a lot of effort. #28 Image credits: roemer_productions #29 Image credits: travel.reality #30 Image credits: qeeq.com #31 Image credits: travel #32 Image credits: qeeq.com #33 Image credits: tasteourworld #34 Image credits: qeeq.com #35 Image credits: qeeq.com #36 Image credits: royrichardo19 #37 Image credits: wherenextnicole #38 Image credits: trystane #39 Image credits: victoria_goulbourne #40 Image credits: rominameier 40 Hilarious Examples Of Insta Vs. Reality That Show The Truth Behind Perfect Photos Reviewed by New Viral Feed on 19:53 Rating: 5

Britney Spears’s recently social media activity once again has her fans talking. The pop princess posted a video where she donned a British accent and talked about the health of her chipped nails, as she relaxed in her Calabasis mansion on Saturday, April 5, according to Daily Mail. She showed off her hands — and her nail polish — to her 156.4M followers. A new video posted by Britney Spears has a few of her fans “frightened” Image credits: britneyspears “Like really little. So little it’s weird but I have a little bitty pink nail,” Spears was saying in a raspy voice. “I haven’t had nails since I was in, like, the seventh grade. I’m, like, like, freaking out. They’re really, really tiny but still.” In the clip, she appeared to also be wearing her signature black eyeliner and messy blonde hair extensions. The video was fairly short, but it’s quickly caused her followers to raise their eyebrows, expressing concern over the singer on X. Image credits: britneyspears @somebodyslucy tweeted, “Britney Spears video about her nails is actually frightening.” “[I don’t care] that ain’t Britney Spears. Her teeth ain’t never looked like that,” stated another. “It’s like she got someone else’s mouth.” “I wish she stopped talking like that,” a third said. But one person pointed out that her nails growing back could finally be a good sign, writing, “Her anxiety always made it so she would bite her nails off. This shows me she’s less anxious overall.” The pop star was heard talking about her chipped nails in a British accent Image credits: britneyspears Image credits: britneyspears Another chimed in to slam the excessive comments, “What else could she be talking about? How are people spinning this into something it’s not? Poor Brit can’t even post about nails. Love Brit.”  About a week ago, Spears also had a few people concerned when she shared a few cheeky selfies on Instagram of her in a red and black lingerie set.  “Definitely a character because that’s not me !!! But wait sh–t it does kinda look like me 🤔🤔🙄🙄!!! Just kidding !!!” she captioned the series of photos. The sudden British accent definitely caught a few netizens off guard   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by XILA MARIA RIVER RED (@britneyspears) Netizens thought she looked to be in somewhat of an “emotionally broken” state, despite the smiles she gave to the camera, with others saying she was still stuck in “the early 2000s” and that everyone “has failed her.”  “It seems like everyone has failed her,” they wrote, saying that many contemporaries in the same industry were able to grow up. “No one’s love for her was bigger than what they could get from her. I feel like she was broken by the people who loved her and the money making machine of entertainment industry.” As of now, it appears as if Spears will be shifting her focus towards her upcoming biopic for Universal Pictures, one that she will be very hands-on in. Image credits: britneyspears It’s still in the developmental stage, but director Jon M. Chu — known for his work in Wicked and Crazy Rich Asians — has shared snippets of what’s to come, getting fans excited to see Spears’s story on screen. The film production company won the rights to the pop star’s poignant 2023 memoir The Woman In Me and will aim to tell her entire journey — her rise to stardom, her battles with mental health, and of course, the 13-year court-ordered conservatorship, which ended in 2021. Her upcoming biopic with Universal Pictures is still in its developmental stage Image credits: britneyspears Producer Marc Platt, seemingly confirmed by Spears herself, was also invited to be a part of the project. “Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt,” she wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “He’s always made my favourite movies… stay tuned.” No news on casting has been made yet, but there have been rumors circulating over whether stars such as Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Millie Bobby Brown, Emma Roberts, Sydney Sweeney, Addison Rae, etc. were slated to play Spears.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by XILA MARIA RIVER RED (@britneyspears) “None of this is true,” Chu shut down in a tweet. “Sounds exciting but have not had one conversation about casting this movie yet. We are way too early in development. Sorry.” “Yikes the voice” pointed out one person “Looks Possessed”: Britney Spears Scares Fans With New Video Showing Messy Hair And Chipped Nails Reviewed by New Viral Feed on 16:53 Rating: 5