On social media, people attempt to be better than they really are. They tend to stage their photos, whether it’s a shot of their nutritious meal, a super cute puppy or a sunny chill-out-day picture to make it look as though they’re “perfect,” as well as everything around them. But in reality, that puppy picture probably took 18 attempts, and that beautiful bowl full of oatmeal and fruit doesn’t likely represent their healthy lifestyle.

Smalljoys has collected amusing pictures peeling away the mystery behind “the ideal life”.

1. Things we do for a good photo

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Instagram vs Reality – What goes on behind the scenes!! ?‍♀️ — The lengths we go to to get Insta worthy photos ?? Here's me climbing up a pile of wobbly rocks after taking the photo on the left!! ?? — Nobody looks perfect 24/7 it's physically impossible and most of the time we only show the good photos not the ones where we are struggling to flawlessly climb up these rocks gracefully ?? — People always tell me how tiny my waist is or how they wish they had bigger legs like mine!! Even though my legs are probably the part im most self conscious with!! Don't get me wrong I've worked really hard on my journey so far to get were I currently am and I'm finally starting to embrace and love my body let's face it we can all try and change our bodies as much as we like and it will work to a certain extent but genetics also play a massive part so we have to love what we have been blessed with I'm far from perfect, We all know what angles make us look our best however our camera roll is also full of so many photos where we got those angles so wrong ? But you will rarely see those… — Stop comparing yourselves to anyone else on social media or to what society deems as "perfect" and start embracing your own beauty that you already have and becoming more comfortable in your own skin!! There is only one of us and that is so powerful it's what makes us all unique!! ?

A post shared by Maddy Gayton (@maddygayton_fituk) on Jul 25, 2018 at 12:36am PDT

2. “Trying to take a nice photo of our pets”

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May your #selfie be #onpoint tonight • • • #instagramvsreality #photoshoot #fail #meme #weekendvibes #funny #dogmemes #instavsreal #instavsreality #corgi #corgisofinstagram #corgipuppy #dogsofinstagram #dog #pet #cute #dogstagram #photooftoday #summer #happy #fun #squishyfacecrew #corgibuttmob #igcutest_animals #tgif

A post shared by PannyTheCorgi (@pannythecorgi) on Jun 29, 2018 at 4:39pm PDT

3. An attempt to be the perfect family

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the way he looks at her??????????? akshshoskslJdsudbd – – – – – #jordynjones #jordanbeau #couplegoals #love #momanddad #cute #instagramvsreallife #aww @jordynjones @jordanbeau @jordanbeau2

A post shared by ?b? (@im.obsessed.wow) on Sep 9, 2018 at 3:54pm PDT

4. Keeping a healthy diet

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Tænk hvis instagram var omvendt: se hvor meget grimmere/tykkere/usundere du kan få folk til at TRO du er, end du i virkeligheden er. Lolz

A post shared by Katrine Gisiger (@katrine.gisiger) on Sep 16, 2018 at 12:33pm PDT

5. Loving each other

6. Dream boy vs reality boy

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How people on Instagram wake up vs real life hahahah? tag @twan ❤? . . . #instagramvsreallife #justwokeup #reallife #funny #twan #twannahforever #goals #beautiful

A post shared by Twan fan (@twanxkuyper.lover) on Sep 9, 2018 at 11:51am PDT

7. Spending a lovely day at the beach

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Oooh ya!! Beachin' it! ………j/k… ? #InstagramVSRealLife #beachorsandbox #hahaha

A post shared by Sherry (@_sherry_b_) on Jun 24, 2016 at 12:05pm PDT

8. “The cuteness of our pets as it is”

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Insta vs reality ?? I'm one sleepy pooch tonight…. my mama still loves me #freddie #freddiethefrenchie #frenchie #frenchbull #bulldogsuk #bulldogs #instavsreality #instadog #dogsofinstagram

A post shared by Freddie the Frenchie (@freddie_the_frenchie_dog) on Jul 17, 2018 at 1:33pm PDT

9. The neatest person of the year

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Reality vs instagram by @my.plant.babies . #instagramvsreallife #instavsreallife #instacoffee #instacoffe #instavsreallife #instagramvsreality #instavsreality #realitybehindthephoto #truthbehindthephoto #truthbehindthegram #realitybehindthecamera #coffee_time #frappuccino #coffeelove

A post shared by Instagram vs. Reality (@_insta_reality_) on Aug 29, 2018 at 4:17pm PDT

10. “Finally nailed swimming on the inflatable ring!”

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#instagramvsreallife #instagramvsreality #instapool #instavsreallife #instavsreality #summerlove #summerholidays #pooltime #behindthephoto @tralalamarta

A post shared by Instagram vs. Reality (@_insta_reality_) on Sep 10, 2018 at 8:32pm PDT

11. Don’t trust the advertisement, it doesn’t look that attractive.

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Forventning vs. Virkelighed? #instagramvsreallife #instagramvsreality #reallife #reality #forventningvsvirkelighed #perfektuperfekt #facemask #ansigtsmaske #harkundetsjovmanselvlaver #muhahaha #happycrappylife

A post shared by Zinna (@happycrappylife) on Jun 18, 2018 at 3:43am PDT

12. Being that loving couple

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••• Instagram vs. Reality. ••• Hach, ich feiere diesen Schnappschuss so sehr. Beide Bilder zeigen uns. Schmachtend und noch immer schwerverliebt – und uns ärgernd und so tuend als wäre Liebe etwas nervtötendes. Das sind halt wir – verliebte Spinner. Und das ist gut so. Wir sind gut so. Liebe ist gut so. Alles ist gut so. Das Leben ist gut so. Gut so mit dir. Gut so mit mir. Gut so mit uns. Gut so für immer. #Stinkiliebe ❤️? ________________________________ #instagramvsreality #instagramvsreallife #liebe #love #relationshipgoals #relationship #happiness #fun #quality #gutso #dankbar #thankful #happygirl #smile #qualitytime #beyourself #beyourbest #beach #beachvibes #beachlife #mv #stralsund #balticsea #ostseekinder #liebe #always #altefähr #glücklichsein

A post shared by @ richvanea on May 30, 2018 at 11:01am PDT

13. What hides behind this flawless skin?

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I look at other girls Instagram sometimes and get super insecure because of their perfect skin and perfect body and perfect life. But then I remember that Instagram literally doesn’t say shit about a person or their life. We don’t see their struggles or THEIR insecurities (bc spoiler alert: EVERYONE has them), we just see what they choose to show us. If you go around on social media comparing yourself to others you’re basically comparing yourself to someones highlight reel, not their real life. You’re comparing yourself to photoshop, lighting, the right angle, sucking in, fake laughing, 2hrs of hair and makeup, a bomb photographer and about 1000 more things. I’m not saying people are fake, I’m just saying this is a platform where people choose what to show you, they choose their best photos. No one wants to highlight their insecurities, struggles, heartbreaks and their anxiety. Stop the comparison game. Stop getting down on yourself because you don’t look like that. They might not even look like that. _______________________________________________________ #embraceyourreal #instavsreality #selflovefirst #skinproblems #acne #acnescarring #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #youareenough #youarebeautiful #acnesufferer #postacne #acnescars #nomoreacne #hyperpigmentation #selflovewarrior #keepingitreal

A post shared by Lea | Skin Mindset Expert (@skinwithlea) on Aug 21, 2018 at 9:07am PDT

14. The reality of cuddling with our partners

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#instagramvsreality #pitbullslovers repost @pitbull.lovers.community

A post shared by Vicky Kuperman (@vickykuperman) on Sep 24, 2018 at 5:14pm PDT

15. When we try to show our best side:

16. Traveling to the nicest places can be surprising.

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Da will man sich diese wunderschöne Brücke ansehen und ein paar Fotos schießen und was findet man vor? Eine Baustelle! Für das Foto musste die Kamera durch einen Bauzaun gesteckt werden. #kromlau #kromlauerpark #rhododendron #rhododendronpark #rakotzbrücke #instagramvsreallife #instagramvsreality #instagram #vs #reallife #relationshipgoals #buildingsite #natur #nature #park #walk #fotografie #photography #trees #bridge #adobeexpress

A post shared by Norman (@b4ck_to_reality) on Jul 12, 2018 at 5:30am PDT

17. Stunning makeup

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True dat!?? #eyemakeup #makeup #makeuplook #experimentingwithmakeup #eyeshadow #eyepalette #eyemakeuplook #makeupporn #behindthephoto #behindthescenes #truestory #instagramvsreality #reallife #behindtheinstagram #lovemakeup #makeupaddict #obsessedwithmakeup #aspiringmua #wannabemua #beauty #beautyblogger #instagrammer #instablogger

A post shared by Henrietta-Hope (@henrietta_hope) on Aug 29, 2018 at 12:52pm PDT

18. A tasty-looking healthy breakfast

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@afitterhealthieryou . #instagramvsreallife #instagramvsreality #instafood #instavsreallife #instavsreality #realitybehindthephoto #realitylife #realitybehindthecamera #realisticfood #realisticinstagram #fitspo #fitfood #fitfoodie #foodofinsta

A post shared by Instagram vs. Reality (@_insta_reality_) on Sep 6, 2018 at 5:58pm PDT

19. Beauty when no one is watching

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Allez c’est dimanche on profite de prendre un peu de temps pour soit et de se pomponner ?!! Vous connaissez @geraldinewest_ ? On était obligées de vous en parler, elle fait plein de parodies de photos instagram et franchement ça vaut le détour ????!! . . . So it’s Sunday so time to take care of ourselves and take some “me time” ?!! Do you know @geraldinewest_ ?? We had to tell you about her as she does a ton of parody from instagram pictures, totally worth checking ???!

A post shared by Cosmetics Obsession (@cosmeticsobsessionofficial) on Sep 23, 2018 at 1:26am PDT

20. Level of desperation: uncalculated

21. Didn’t see that coming, did you?

22. Couldn’t you at least find an imaginary person?

23. Never judge something before seeing the whole picture.

24. Did he just invent the invisible pen?

25. Having a girlfriend is hard work.

26. Nick Boyer must be offended and pleased at the same time for the free promotion.

27. This trick will only work on those sitting behind you.

28. How the Great Wall of China is presented on Instagram vs what you really come across when you visit it.

29. You sold yourself too short.

30. “At least the watch on her arm is real. I mean, I guess.”

31. Chilling at her house near the lake

32. We hope “bae” is okay with her borrowing his car.

 

33. How people see the Mona Lisa on Instagram vs how guests “enjoy” it at the Louvre

34. The Copacabana is not as roomy and relaxing as you may have thought.

35. When a well-behaved dog “rips” the pillow using the zipper: