Abstract
With the emergence of picture editing software and social media platforms that enable the sharing of photographs, manipulated digital images have become more prevalent in the modern world. While digital image alteration can be used to make photos appear cleaner or brighter or for other benign objectives, it can also be used to depict persons, events, or locations in ways that are incorrect or deceptive. Digitally altered photos have a variety of negative impacts on society. First, people may start to doubt the veracity of the visuals they encounter online, which can weaken their confidence in the media and information in general. This can have serious ramifications, especially in contexts where information accuracy is vital, including news reporting and political dialogue. Additionally, manipulated pictures may be harmful to individuals, particularly young people, by fostering a culture of obsession with appearance and inflated ideals of beauty. Furthermore, it can encourage a culture of mistrust and cynicism, which might make it challenging for people and communities to cooperate and work toward shared objectives. The authors’ aim in this qualitative study is to investigate the effect of manipulated images and how are they used in commercial content to confuse and influence individuals. The study's objectives were to conceptually evaluate the role of photoshopped images in advertising and discuss the key issues surrounding their use in advertisements. It also explored how image alteration in commercials serves to strengthen the egos of those who use it personally and improve already stunning photographs.