Vox has released a short video tackling the dilemma of why noses seem larger in selfies rather than IRL.

Big nose, small lie

According to Vox, in 2017 alone the misrepresentation of noses in selfies has been driving social network users to opt for plastic surgery to counter that big-nose-selfie look.

The viideo reveals that last year over half (55%) of patients choosing cosmetic surgery did so because they wanted to “look better in selfies.”

The popularity in elective surgery has been on a steady rise when you consider that selfie-driven operations were resting at 42% back in 2016.

A nose for trouble

The source of the illusionary larger nose is caused by distortion that occurs between subject and camera when the distance between the two is decreased. The closer the camera, the bigger the nose.

Researchers found that a photo taken at 5ft away flattens features. At 1ft away, the base of the nose looks 30% larger while making the tip look 7% larger.

The solution? There are filters in development meant to counteract the effect, though nothing is ready for the market just yet. For now, long arms and selfie-sticks are your gateway to the truer you.

Have you noticed this effect when taking selfies? What do you think about a smart filter to counteract the illusion? Let us know what you think in the comments below.