Exposing Influencer Editing Apps! Facetune / Photoshop FAILS Reaction 🤭

[@Akl-y7z]

Just want to tell you that I've worked with people with eating disorders and body dysmorphia and shown them your videos on photoshop and other editing tools and I wanted to let you know how much relief you've brought to some people who have been really struggling. I really appreciate your scientific and non-judgmental way of discussing this stuff. Thank you!

[@adiegrass1616]

That’s amazing!!

[@bratty2987]

Most people who do this probably already have eating disorders and body dysmorphia as a way to cope

[@KinKiraLee]

Nothing but respect for you and for James. Thanks for doing good in this world

[@gpgp1841]

Wish I'd have someone who'd point out all the Photoshop tricks when I was growing up (90's, early 2000s). I doubt it would have prevented my ED but it would have been very helpful.

[@Destiny-vg9bx]

Does anyone know where I can find therapy for body dysmorphia? 🥺

[@abracabadass]

this stuff reminds me of the book series called Uglies/Pretties. it's set in a future where teenagers get massive surgeries to make them all Perfect so no one is too much prettier than everyone else. and then they find old magazine pictures of supermodels from our time and they're shocked at how "ugly" they are, because they're not perfectly symmetrical and whatever. feels like we're getting closer to that with every app like this.

[@dessieangel1021]

I remember that series! I loved it! Definitely feels like a prophetic series

[@lydiac680]

yess i remember that series, this comment took me back to reading it ages ago ahh x

[@asuka-ryo]

I used to read that book in my school library then hide them so no one else could read it before I finish the entire book 💀

[@saladasss2092]

same what we do now when we see pictures of people from the middle ages that were considered beautiful, we would barely call them average

[@jemimajanvier4706]

I read it middle school, oh the memories!!

[@sparklejezebel1308]

My concern is and continues to be the self esteem of young girls. I am so thankful that I didn’t come up in this age of Photoshop. I had self esteem issues that I am just now, at the age of 40, beginning to conquer. I wish and hope that young girls realize they are being fooled with these programs and that “perfection doesn’t exist.”

[@evilcuppycake5193]

Thankfully, it seems like the current generation is pretty well aware of these things. I have a teenage goddaughter and her and her friends have talked to me about how weird it is to them that older people didn't know everything is retouched. They just expect that nothing on the internet/movies/tiktok/ect is real

[@hanktheclank]

It’s such a mixed bag because a lot of girls are pretty savvy to these things, yet there is also a lot of evidence that these filters are still harmful to their self-esteem regardless of whether they know or not. No one is entirely immune to the affects of being bombarded constantly by images of people who all look the same who are being touted as the most beautiful people on earth - especially when you’re a young girl or AFAB person, and especially when you DON’T look like all of those people. It’s particularly harmful to WOC considering that even though we know that these pictures are altered, the beauty standard is still being influenced by them. Things like slimmer noses and blue eyes are often part of Instagram filters and the like, as an example. What does this tell women with wide bridged noses and brown eyes? It’s a nuanced discussion for sure, but frankly, I don’t think it’s ok that these features are so often the ones being overwritten by popular filters. It’s the same discussion that often surrounds makeup: is makeup fun and can it be an avenue for self expression? Yes, absolutely. But is it also a cultural expectation foisted upon women and AFAB people lest they be ostracized or, as many studies show, literally let go from their jobs if they don’t use it? Yes. Same applies here: are filters fun? Yes. Are they also perpetuating beauty standards that are influencing and harming young women? Yes, especially when used so often by the people they follow and see everywhere. I don’t think the answer is to take it all away, but I do wish more influencers would speak openly about the harm these things can do and have done, and stop pretending it’s “just for fun” or “just self-expression.” There is a lot more at play here. It’s actively NOT fun for a lot of people, and has driven many people I know - including myself - to harmful, self-destructive behaviors and intense self-loathing that can take years to overcome. And it’s often the most marginalized people who are most impacted by these things, I will add.

[@Kc-dq7zj]

I have 3 daughters 18, 10 and 13. They are very aware of all the tricks. They know it's all fake. We probably actually had it harder (I'm 40 too) because we saw magazine covers and most of our generation didn't realize how fake those covers were. At least younger generations are onto it.

[@evilcuppycake5193]

@@hanktheclank I agree with you. My comment was mostly on them at least having the awareness that previous generations didn't. No one is immune, but at least they're better informed than we were.

[@hanktheclank]

@@evilcuppycake5193 totally agree! I have a younger sister who grew up with all of this even moreso than I did and she knows what’s up as well. So do all of my cousins and so on. It’s good that the awareness is out there, I think it’s a positive first step in getting our society to tone it down with these things :) Btw I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was trying to refute anyone or challenge what they were saying. Like I said, I agree that awareness is up and I think that’s a great thing. I basically just unloaded all of my thoughts at once haha

[@cricketcalin]

Honestly, as someone who is not at all conventionally attractive, all these dramatic edits just make me feel so discouraged. Like it helps so much when you see someone with your features! And then seeing all the ways people change those parts of their appearance, it's a real confidence bust.

[@noxfleuret1839]

I feel like everybody needs to learn how to find themselves attractive first. The fact that some people heavily edit their pictures just shows that they’re not very happy with themselves either which is sad. I believe that once YOU yourself learn how to love yourself nothing and nobody can shake your confidence because you’re the one who’s in charge of your own thoughts and feelings. Comparison will and has always been the worst thing out there when you haven’t found confidence yet, it’s like a race that can never be won because I believe that you just can’t compare two unique individuals with each other, since like I just said - everyone is unique and their own way and that’s what makes our world so great and interesting :)

[@ibrahimdayub3276]

Hey James, just saying that you inspired me to get back into photo retouching. I'm studying hard and even managed to land a few side jobs. These videos are really amazing. Thx hun

[@katyr2382]

Ahaha I somehow read 'side jobs' as 'nose jobs'

[@JamesWelsh]

Ah that’s so good to hear! 😍🙏🏼💜

[@ibrahimdayub3276]

@@katyr2382 some day I will get them hahahha

[@Vee-Maxi]

I used to diet excessively, or just skip meals all together, trying and trying in vain to get the perfectly flat belly I was seeing on Instagram. It’s only recently that I’ve realised the little bump near my abdomen is where the organs go (especially being a woman) and videos like this really help me in remembering that Instagram and etc are not reality

[@brutus3631]

yeah, and that tiny pouch of fat under your belly button is there to protect your reproductive organs too, it's important

[@ohmygodbecky6829]

Honestly? It pisses me off when we try and try AND TRY to do what we see when in reality they didn’t try even a fraction of what we believed, they just pressed a button

[@jadeliang]

I'm Chinese and I couldn't live without similar apps through my teenage years, I have tons of overly edited photos because I felt ugly and fat looking at myself, to a point that I started to starve myself just to look "thinner". And people here are generally conditioned to think "the skinnier the better", that's probably why these apps are so prevalent in China... It's really sad

[@hollyholly3172]

I’m so sorry you went through that, I can relate somewhat, in the opposite way though, as a teen I did not even like to take pics of myself, and filters like that just reaffirmed my view that I was ugly after seeing the edited pics and that I would never be able to be that beautiful. I’m still battling that because I only really just left my teen years recently. Yes it is really sad to see that ideal is pushed so heavily in China. I’ve also noticed that due to these photos and editing apps a lot of people tend to think these images are what all East Asian women look like in real life. It’s really crazy. I just want to add on that, if the pretty lady in your profile picture is you then you are very very beautiful! Please do not think otherwise! I am envious !!

[@SubKween]

These apps are cool and all but I think they help perpetuate society’s idea of looking perfect. There are people who have dysmorphia and these apps certainly can’t help for people who are already insecure about their own image.

[@AllyInReality]

I got the Snow app before cause I wanted the anime filter It's freaking scary cause it feels like everything is a lie You don't know which pics are real

[@David-zp4cw]

These apps as well as social media are so detrimental to young people

[@stardustnmoonbeam_soulnotl2608]

You should “fix” a picture of the “Welsh Triplet!”

[@JamesWelsh]

LOL! He’s already perfect

[@disillusioned.hermit]

@@JamesWelsh I know that you know that you screamed when he got a little too close, so maybe some room for improvement? 😂😂😂💖💖💖

[@mel-ij2of]

@@disillusioned.hermit taken aback by his beauty

[@disillusioned.hermit]

@@mel-ij2of BAHAHAHAHA!

[@MrMark28]

@@disillusioned.hermit I’m still laughing from that. Oh my goodness I was dead!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@XiaLingLing]

I remember watching Dawn Porter’s documentary about photoshop years ago when I was younger. I remember them taking her one eye, flipping it and putting it on the other side so she looks symmetrical. As someone who has microphthalmia I was obsessed with this and would use this really cheap version of Photoshop to try and copy how they did it. It never worked and I would flat out refuse to let anyone take a photo of me. I would always have my one eye covered by my hair and I just always looked awkward in photos. I lost out on being part of some amazing memories, I look back at them now and it was like I didn’t exist. It’s really sad. I’m still incredibly insecure about it now but memories are better than looking photo perfect. Take photos with your friends, no matter how silly you think you look, because selfies are lonely.

[@lunagray9666]

You are the reason i stopped comparing my skin to celeb pics and started getting satisfied and accepting that I have pores and will always be having bumps. I used to really obsses over perfect skin (still am but wayyyyyy lesser). Seeing these videos really make me stop chasing after an impossible thing.

[@d.t.garcia8705]

I think that it is so healthy for the very young and impressionable to have a professional resource like you. Thank you for making these videos and doing so in such a classy and constructive way. 🥰

[@soph4realll]

As someone who has body dysmorphia and basically can’t use social media because I find influencers too triggering...THANK U

[@imanialexander1722]

Yes i’m glad you mentioned how sometimes people ‘exaggerate’ the before pictures. It does the opposite of the true message. It’s giving ‘toxic positivity’.

[@beckinevison-smith1025]

I'm going to start doing this by making myself look really fat on my Instagram pics so when people see me in real life, they'll say how great I am looking!! #LifeHack

[@JamesWelsh]

That’s such a good idea! 😂

[@astoldbynickgerr]

Was thinking of doing something similarly ngl

[@SieMiezekatze]

I have never actualize my Facebook profile picture everyone goes you look better than the pictures XD

[@syasyaishavingfun]

Do it to sell detox tea

[@mariewebb6398]

I absolutely love people's faces with all of their individual nuances. It's so sad that everyone feels they need to present an image other than themselves. When you paint a portrait you capture the personality & this is lost when everyone wants to look flawless. I am glad to hear that kids are onto the fakeness presented, maybe we can look forward to a backlash ❤ James, I love your face better without the edits 😘

[@jesspaine3396]

Thank you for these videos, I feel they're very important. I'm fairly uneducated about photo manipulation and wouldn't be able to see a lot of these on my own, but I'm starting to see what to look for thanks to you!

[@ilenom1444]

I would absolutely love it if James posted a video teaching us how to properly use photoshop for skin retouching. I've been doing it for a couple of years now but I would definitely love to see how James works!

[@MeganPinskey]

Those Chinese edits are so mind blowing. I remember seeing them on douyin and had no idea what was going on 😂 it’s like magic but also kinda sad :-(

[@jessicafoley1435]

This is why it’s good to go outside and see how real faces and bodies look like instead of false perceptions online

[@p.williams]

I love these videos! I don't know anything about photo manipulation, but it's nice to reinforce what we see online is almost never real.

[@ximar0ckstrx]

This is exactly what I needed to perk my day up! ❤

[@Kata_Rin]

OMG. STAYC “so bad” in the intro caught me off guard haha !

[@logan2113]

the titles are so inflammatory and then you’re so nice during the critiques/reviews ☺️

[@jessicapostema8949]

Hi James, I just want to say thank you for this content and your skincare content as well. I’m 40, and looking at all the pics of celebrities and influencers without a single sign of age can really bring an old person (me) down on themselves. It’s nice to be able to see how it’s done. And with some of your recommendations and reviews of skincare products, I can pass for 35 😂 . I adore you, both your brothers and the twin channel makes me laugh till I cry every time!

[@nonflosser7607]

love the intro music.. stayc girls, it’s going down

[@JamesWelsh]

Have you seen the teasers for their comeback?!? 💜

[@nonflosser7607]

@@JamesWelsh yes!! LOVE the aesthetic

[@bangpink2771]

Yes!!!

[@JustJaseson]

OMG I thought it was legit ‘Stranger Things’ 🤣

[@emilybaughman2339]

These types of videos have really helped with comparing myself to people on social media. Thank you, James!

[@taylorbrookemcelroy9641]

You and your brother, Robert's, videos are the highlight of my day! Thank you guys for doing these! 💙💙

[@Browndrea]

At least this helps me limit things to feeling insecure about people in real life instead of also internet people.

[@annienewman8312]

For gaming/streaming, I can see how that would be used. It can be used for privacy. For women, where looks are deemed more important, it can help them get viewers.

[@nancybruce3174]

I never thought about filters being used for privacy. That's so interesting! There's a lot of focus on the deceit of filters, but not a lot of talk about how it could be used for safety purposes. I can imagine it might be helpful in preventing stalkers from finding people.

[@solasoltis7226]

Makes my day when I see a new video pop up!! Ive struggled with acne as an adult and love watching your videos 💗 I just started using the glow recipe line thanks to you and I’m in love!!

[@jetson10100]

Keep these coming James!!!!! By the way, I have no idea why you would alter your face at all.

[@allrighty1000]

Thank you so so much for these videos, they're really important these days

[@feyrie]

Thank you for making this video. I hate it when I see comments saying, "So? why does it even matter they lie and edit?" to me people who make comments like this are speaking out of a place of comfort and never had this problem. So many girls including myself have the worst sense of self worth when we see photos and videos that are retouched. Because these girls are insanely unreal looking and they get popular, they use these apps where they can wave their hand in front of their face, and the filter doesn't move so we assume oh its LEGIT. The apps with edited body, they dance around freely and its so hard for untrained eyes to see its all highly edited and it isnt JUST weight loss. I am so incredibly happy when I see videos like this being made. Its a reminder these people do edit, and these people look like normal people, and looking like PEOPLE is NORMAL.

[@emic138]

😂😂😂 at that “wait what” chuckle!!!

[@ellove370]

Love this series James💕

[@mpazinambao2938]

i think everything on the internet is real so this helps a great deal in helping me learn.

[@SieMiezekatze]

The fact that I have seen all those edited pictures on "face goals " Pinterest boards says a lot

[@itstia552]

You make me feel better James thank you xxx

[@robinl.970]

The last tiny clip of you just laughing. 🤣

[@feyrie]

And I totally agree, the edit is "Subtle" to where you are like "oh yeah isnt that so and so?" but when you really do take a good look, you realize the editing...but the likeness of that person is still there, so you never even question it to begin with.

[@lingggvs]

the stayc intro 👏

[@chupature6845]

I love the last pic and little chuckle 🤭

[@Jamiereneev2008]

Today is a hard day and I need this. Also , yes- knowledge is power !!! 👍🏻

[@meg1408]

Does anyone else say his intro with him? I got so excited when I learned it 🤣

[@JamesWelsh]

😂💜

[@angelaloafabread7074]

Every time! 💜

[@ClaudineImeldaRichards]

I do ahahahah

[@vickiecoles8214]

I have a mentally handicapped daughter that doesn’t speak much but she will hear me listening to James and every time she says‘perfection doesn’t exist’. He has impacted her more than me! So I will always love him, and Robert (she says they are her friends)💜💜💜💜

[@meganz020]

YES I ACTUALLY DO LOL.

[@CarmenMc007]

The video photoshopping just blew my mind. I knew it happened but didn’t know it was so easily nowadays. Also as for photoshop in general, last time I used it was like 15 years ago and it’s come so far since! Way more easier to make it all.

[@xellie_bellxx7894]

I love this type of content!!!

[@ak_pmrjs]

For me, i dont like using filters or editing my selfies or photos in general. I just feel sad and hopeless whenever i see my photo with a filter, because that is not me anymore and i will never look like that. And i just hate it when i don't feel any sense of my true self and i feel that way whenever i use filters. Instead i am working on embracing my self as it is,filter free

[@mel-ij2of]

11:16 that's scarier than the creature you and robert created in your latest video on the twin channel

[@meganz020]

Forreal. I’m dead at this two second clip of him giggling tho lol.

[@Marina_7]

@@meganz020 same 🤣 that chuckle made my day

[@JanetMiller78]

Yeah I had to rewind that a couple times and pause it....and was still like WTF. Scary 😳

[@Patti-1962]

Well done, James! I love these videos because you are so knowledgeable about all this!!

[@mortuuscerebri950]

James, I just want to really thank you for this series. When I first started my make-up/skin care journey at 14 I knew nothing about either. At the time my resources were all online influencers, and it did serious mental damage to me to never achieve the results I saw all these people online achieving. It's been years since then, and I just found you and your brother last year, but it's done wonders for my self confidence! I knew that some editing/filtering was done, but I never understood the extent. Learning that other people have imperfections and learning to accept my own is a struggle every day, but you and your brother have truly made it much easier for me.😊

[@leoniesableblanc]

Having had a really busy meh day this cheered me right up. I really enjoy these 😀

[@hannahlanai]

I love LOVE this series! Keep the videos coming!

[@alysiamontoya7607]

Love this series so much! Thank you for showing tips with photo shop💜

[@Whiskin87]

These videos are fascinating!

[@Irenee_vx]

Thank you for this video and the overall series. This is perfect and so informative don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

[@enakshi8729]

My sis was just talking about you that you and Jin wore the Same clothing (white shirt where '..Acne ' is written on neck) and here you are 💜🖤❤

[@JamesWelsh]

Omg literally the reason I got it 😅💜

[@tes_jpg]

JAMES!! HAVE YOU SEEN STAYC'S NEW TEASER PICS OMG I LOVE UR INTRO

[@4cutaatmaaram]

These video's help me a lot. Thanks James 🙂

[@VIXXIIMCMLXXXVII]

Things I love most: fly-away hairs, stretch marks, dark spots, wrinkles and uneven skin. Just saying

[@InvisibleRen]

I use snow and pitu to take nail pics. Because even the camera with all the filters and adjustments turned “off” …. still has a filter. And I’m not faking my face. But I’ll totally let it enhance my nail art and hide the flaws. 😂

[@Humbleme1224]

Very Interesting. I just had a hard time understanding what all you were showing on the eyebrows. Have never heard of filters until you and Robert mentioned them.

[@annetteauckland9450]

Loved this video! Thanks for the insight - scary..

[@keinan05]

1:12 the app its called xingtu you can download it from google

[@emmyb2673]

Really like these videos and do what you like to do James. It is important to do videos that make you happy too. ❤

[@chrissylee325]

After having such a bad day, it's so nice to be able to see a video from you @James Welsh and I don't know what it is but I find your voice so calming. If you ever need/want a different type of video idea, you would be brilliant for asmr! Please don't think I'm creepy 🤦‍♀️ you just have a nice voice lol and I think the same about your brothers. But I love that you're teaching us how people face tune/filter their pictures! 😂

[@marmelaota1703]

4:37 that's how girls in Beat em Up games looked like for the longest time, look up Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 😭😂

[@GuadaLup.]

Love this perspective 🙌

[@yanalicious87]

Love these videos ❤️

[@floatingyunsan]

Thank you James this is super educational because like half my Chinese idols use this and like I wasn't fully aware before carefully inspecting 💖💖💖👍🏻

[@umikou]

omg i love the stayc opening

[@haebee]

i love these PS tutorials where you show the actual workflow.

[@wafflethesheltie1146]

Can you do an episode on live-streaming filters/editing? ❤️ I love these!

[@HannahJo]

Oh James! This video is just what i needed today! 🖤

[@SP.Addams]

What about doing a collab about skin care/ makeup looks that mimicking more natural looking filters? I really go from drab to fab with smooth skin and lashes….

[@keilarodriguez3683]

I love these videos. Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@jaytoussaint9598]

These are so fun. Thanks for the info.

[@cate9745]

Thank you for these videos , seriously

[@mylarosiee]

I love that you have Stayc as your intro 😍

[@1hitkill973]

I signed in just to say that I absolutely love your skin. Wish I could smoothen my skin like that too.

[@virginiemazy7054]

Super series!

[@cupcakexlindsay]

These videos always help with my body dystrophin. Thanks you 💕

[@monroerobbins7551]

Honestly, as someone who used to have BAD dysphoria, dysmorphia, and used to have an ED (still struggling with them, but I’m getting better), I’m glad so many people, including you, are emphasizing the truth, and are emphasizing that *perfection doesn’t exist* , that it’s ok to have wrinkles and pores and how social media can warp our perceptions. It makes me feel a bit better, cause while self improvement is good, *only* seeing falsified or photoshopped images is going to make anyone feel self conscious. I’m worried for young folks, especially kids (I dunno why I phrase that the way I did, I’m only 20), because I don’t want them to strive towards a false ideal of perfection, or think self worth is only skin-deep.

[@dreamingmusicgal]

This blows my mind... I wish I knew how to do this. If I could take a picture now after a mini stroke a few years back with one side saggy and straighten it more compared to before just with my aging in it. OMG I'd love it, I love who I am just not the saggy left side of my face. I refuse to take pictures anymore because of it. Blessings! Sherry

[@silverstarfinder]

While I understand where you’re coming from, doing that would also make the you presented totally fake. There isn’t hiding that IRL. It’s better to take the pics and be REAL, with the memories and proof of being there and living those experiences, than to play pretend for internet strangers. We internet strangers aren’t worth it. The real people in your life already know and don’t care.

[@dreamingmusicgal]

@@silverstarfinder I never once said a fucking word about lying or hiding it IF I could do it. Maybe it's my vain way of just wanting to see what I'd kinda look like if I would've had a fucking stroke a few years ago well over 10 actually so more than a few. Don't get it twisted I love myself no matter what I look like, it is what it is and my outside isn't who I am. I can't hide the fact of what I look like when I walk outside of my doors. As far as you know I could be a drop dead beautiful beauty queen with bad luck or the ugliest monster on earth so think first before making assumptions. As my Mother alway said assuming makes an ASS of yourself!

[@elleciagregory5713]

The lightsticks in the back are such a nice touch

[@ambern2842]

The giggle at the end 😂😂💙

[@jessicalynnkoch9377]

Your new opening music reminds me of the Stranger Things theme song! I love it☺️ thank you for your videos James! Ive always had skin issues and watching your videos, Ive bought a lot of your recommendations and put together a routine that has helped so much! I have so much more confidence and I just want you to know how much you’ve helped me 🤍🤍

[@tes_jpg]

the opening is stayc's "so bad" :)

[@Findpepperbridge]

You are being so nice.. they don’t look like the same person at all

[@MakinoEchizen]

THE STAYC OPENING

[@amandacreekmore9224]

Hi James! love your content! I’m trying to find that link of things you suggest or your favorite products. I need a good cleansing balm - face wash and moisturizer and JUST a skincare routine in general. Is there anyway us subscribers can reach out and explain our skin situations and you can direct us to a link or some products and steps 💗💗

[@SpaceQueen44]

She long in all the wrong places 🤣

[@JamesWelsh]

🤭

[@DSkye-n7m]

Interesting! Thanks James, 💕

[@ahoweO7]

I have loose wave curly hair and my hair always wants to bend towards my face and sticks to my neck. I would not use that as a definitive give away. A lot of people straight their hair but round it out and curl it in toward the face for a "framing" effect.

[@wiamelgoumi512]

Love your videos

[@BabyBedtimeASMR]

The last one was so sneaky and that chuckle 😂😂

[@starlight8554]

I adore soda for the filters and also the fake makeup for days when I’m not arsed

[@ddxo1751]

pls do a photo shop class !!! 😍😍😍

[@jambalie]

The commitment I've made to skincare because of you, I swear.

[@yxumi]

I love how he used stayc's song "so bad"💜

[@wiktoriastolorz4841]

THAT IS SCARY !!!