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Problems
Problems
Photo manipulation is nearly as old as photography itself, but modern technology has made it common and easy to do. Using photo editing software, almost anyone can make big changes to an image, from adjusting colors and lighting, to adding and removing content. That’s why you should always keep a critical eye on images in the media.
Realistic vs artistic images
Realistic vs artistic images
Essentially, images are meant to either depict reality or be artistic.
In artistic media, images may be manipulated for any number of creative purposes, and that’s perfectly fine.
But for images meant to show reality, manipulation can create big problems. While it’s common for news media to make minor changes like cropping or lighting adjustments, it’s unethical for journalists to edit a photo in a way that changes its meaning or misleads viewers. It is not common in major media publications as they are covered by rules.
Advertisements
Advertisements
Unfortunately, photo manipulation is very common in other types of media, such as advertisements.
In the quest to sell you something, TV commercials and magazine ads have often been guilty of showing people and products that look better than they really are.
Look at the image below. Doesn't it look so tasty...
Now here's the ingredients:
WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND 2% OR LESS OF: CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE, CONCENTRATED TANGERINE JUICE, CONCENTRATED APPLE JUICE, CONCENTRATED LIME JUICE, CONCENTRATED GRAPEFRUIT JUICE, CONCENTRATED PEAR JUICE, CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), NATURAL FLAVORS, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CANOLA OIL, SODIUM CITRATE, CELLULOSE GUM, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, NEOTAME, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE TO PROTECT FLAVOR, YELLOW #5, YELLOW #6.
Social media
Social media
Social media users can also give themselves a digital makeover with minimal effort. Using editing tools and image filters built into various apps, users can make themselves look however they like in just a few moments.
Because they’re presented as reality, these edited images can affect our mental well-being. By constantly seeing pictures of artificially flawless people, some of us may start to believe that these pictures are authentic, and that we can never live up to these unrealistic ideals. This type of harmful thinking can lead to all sorts of mental and emotional health concerns.
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