Does every picture taken need to be photoshopped? And is it really wrong to upload a picture without photoshopping it? Is everyone busy trying to hide their flaws? In this selfie-crazed environment, there are innumerable celebs who swear by photoshop. Yet in a slow trend, many celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Demi Lovato, Bella Thorne and others are raising the bar by not using non-photoshopped images and showing the world what they really look like. 

Bloggers, sociologists and experts tell us what they think about viewing oneself a certain way instead of accepting their looks without any air brushing.

Nischita Babu, a blogger always stands by portraying her real self! She says, “When the concentration is on creating good work or good content, you will have an added interest in beautifying or creating a fake you! We all edit our pictures, but we need to know where to draw the line. Adjusting lighting, contrast, adding a filter, is all fine! But enhancing one’s body or facial features is definitely not ethical.”

Girish Balachandran

But, in recent times people have gone overboard with photoshop and it is now not even realistic. The same happened when recently Kim Kardashian posted a picture on Instagram of her photoshopped self which so clearly showed that the car in the background was squeezed. As hilarious as it is, it also shows the extent some people can go to, to look picture perfect.

Sociologist, Girish Balachandran thinks being able to accept oneself is perhaps, the biggest gift we could ever give ourselves. He further adds, “We’re living in an era of post-truth becoming increasingly cynical of accepting things the way they are presented to us. If it’s ‘perfect’ there’s probably something wrong with it, we think. Authenticity and being human — warts and all, has assumed new currency. Being presented to the world the way we are, rather than through photo-shopped imagery, is the new cool. It’s 2018. Keep it real, people.”

Is it just about the perfect snapshot or more than that? Is it perhaps something to do with self-esteem? Anikha SJ, a psychologist says, “Photoshop hampers perception about one’s body image which is a true reflection of one’s self-esteem. Masking and filtering yourself for acceptance leads to false self-belief. Leading us to constantly question oneself, ‘Who am I?’ I am sure that we all know that. Beauty not only lies in the eyes of the beholder but in one’s thoughts and actions. Know yourself to love thy self.”