When someone tells you an ad has been PhotoShopped, the natural reaction is “Well, yeah, duh.” What you don’t think about is that the manipulation goes far beyond messing with shading and cleaning up blotches. We asked our readers to enlighten us about the interesting, hands-on tricks ad makers still use. Ads sometimes compare products unfairly to competitors by highlighting weaknesses in others while omitting limitations of their own. For example, a detergent may claim to clean better than “brand X” without clarifying that brand X’s formula is for different types of stains.
Words like “eco-friendly,” “premium,” “scientifically proven,” or “revolutionary” are often used without real backing. These terms can manipulate perception even if they don’t accurately describe the product. Some products or services fail to disclose side effects, risks, or limitations upfront. Examples include energy drinks with high caffeine content, skin treatments with harsh chemicals, or financial services with hidden fees.
