Have you ever wondered about the “before” and “after” photos you sometimes see online of men taking Viagra? Or have you ever wondered if those testimonials about how great it is to increase their sex drive and improve their love life are true?
Well, you probably shouldn’t wonder any more because they’re probably not. Turns out that a lot of the photos you see online are actually either completely fabricated or heavily Photoshopped. So, while you might still want to try Viagra, you might also want to save your money because it doesn’t seem like it’s worth the risk.
What Is Viagra?
If you’re wondering what Viagra is, it’s a drug manufactured by Pfizer that was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in June 1997 to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Viagra is also the generic name of Sildenafil Citrate, which is a type of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor.
While Pfizer originally developed and marketed Viagra for use in men with ED, it’s now a much more common drug to treat a variety of conditions. In fact, it’s now the fifth most prescribed drug in the country. Worldwide, almost 700 million prescriptions have been written since Viagra was first approved in 1997. So, if you’re looking for a daily medication that will improve your overall quality of life, consider Viagra.
Why Are Photoshopped Viagra Images Popular?
You might have seen a few online marketers taking advantage of the highly-sexualized nature of Facebook and other social media sites. They’ll post sexy photos of men or women with a prescription drug in the background with the goal of encouraging men to click on the ad and buy the medication. Often, these ads will have a disclaimer at the bottom saying the photo is fake or manipulated. However, since the ads target men who are most likely to be persuaded by them, it’s kind of like poisoning the well.
What’s more, in some cases, the medication they’re hawking isn’t even approved by the FDA for the purpose they’re using it. So, not only is it likely that the photo is fake, but they could also be risking their own health by trying to sell you something that might not be safe.
Where Do the Photos Come From?
Usually, these types of ads will come from overseas where Google Adsense, which is the ad network that appears at the top of nearly all websites, doesn’t have the same restrictions it does in the U.S. So, not only is it difficult for advertisers to comply with the restrictions, but it’s also difficult for Google to control the content of the websites where the ads appear. As a result, many of the ads you see online are completely fabricated.
In some cases, the photos will be completely fabricated and the person in the photo will have no idea they were even in a photo shoot. In others, they might vaguely remember the incident but be under the impression it was a viral marketing campaign and think it was all part of a much larger scheme to promote condoms or sexual health.
How Do I Know If The Photos Are Real?
Well, it might be difficult to tell if the photos you see online are actually fake or modified, but there are a few telltale signs. First, if the person in the photo has a visible scar on their neck from where the collar of the t-shirt they’re wearing was cut open, then it’s most likely that the photo is fake. Second, if the photo is dark, there’s a good chance it’s been Photoshopped. Third, if the person in the photo is facing the wrong direction or is looking at the camera with a distant, confused look in their eyes, then it’s also probably Photoshopped. Finally, if there’s any reflection in the photo and it doesn’t match the mood or environment of the rest of the picture, then it’s probably Photoshopped.
Now, it might be that the photo you’re looking at was taken before or after the medication was taken. However, if the medication was administered within the last couple of days, then it’s most likely that the photo was recently taken and not manipulated. Of course, this is a general rule and doesn’t always apply. For example, if you see the same person taking the same medication, but in a different setting, then it’s possible that the settings of the two photos were different and it wasn’t actually the same person. Nevertheless, in most cases, this will be true. So, in order to tell if an online image of a man or woman is real or not, simply compare it to other photos of the same person or to publicly available background information about them, like their name, address and phone number. If you have any doubts, move along—there’s probably no need for you to be clicking on the link in the first place.