A new app is under fire for encouraging men to “meet the manly version of yourselves” by offering them “red-hot perfect body editing.”
Manly is a British app being marketed primarily to gay men. It allows users to upload photos of themselves and then edit their physical features to look more appealing to other guys on dating apps.
“So easy to be hot muscle men,” the app’s page reads. “Try #manly now!”
Related: Grindr catfish reveals what made him lie to get your private pics
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For £4.99, users can completely change their appearances, adding facial hair, fake tattoos, and definition, changing their skin tone, and exaggerating their muscles.
Once the photo has been successfully doctored, they can upload it to their Grindr profiles, and–voilà!–they’re officially “manly.”
Of course, not everyone is a fan of the message the app is sending.
Instinct writes:
Not only is Manly promoting unhealthy, and now completely unrealistic, ideas of “the perfect male body,” but its encouraging users to participate in that lie. On top of that, this adds all kinds of problems in terms of dating and hooking up. People already get put off when you look different than you do in your profile picture, and now you can change it so you look like a totally different person?
What do you think? Problematic of fun? Sound off in the comments section below…
Here’s a video that shows how the “red-hot perfect body editing” process works.
JaredMacBride
I have a friend who once met a guy on a dating app who claimed to be a California surfer; had the blonde hair, the tan and everything. They made an arrangement to meet at my friend’s apartment; the “surfer” turned out to be a Hassidic Jew who thought he’d get more action claiming to be a blonde surfer.
NateOcean
Same song, different verse:
The guy’s description was the Marlboro Man.
The guy than knocked on my door was the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
chris33133
My electronic avatar will hook up with your electronic avatar, and won’t we have virtual fun!?
Mandrake
We’re in the age of “gender bending,” and androgyny is the “In Thing.” Masculinity and femininity are practically being frowned upon as too stifling and conforming. Will Smith’s son now wears high heels and pearls, and everybody applauds his individualism. Fashion magazines are leaning toward gender neutral attire. “Out” magazine primarily features models whose gender is difficult to ascertain. The metrosexual is evolving.
I am thankful there’s still Nick Jonas and Pietro Boscelli because Gary Grant and Marilyn Monroe are long dead.
DCguy
And this comment had what to do with an app that changes your appearance?
ChrisK
I’ve used similar apps. It’s nice to see what I look like with bigger arms and ripped abs. It’s fun but I don’t use it to bait anyone.
ProfessorMoriarty
The body of the guy in the video looked perfectly “manly” (whatever THAT means) to me in the “before” phase. Ridiculous. And what happens when you meet your perfect Ken doll in the meatbag flesh?
Sam6969
We are at the prehistoric times of biotechnology. Next generations will be at the age of Altered Carbon and will be able to change of body at will…and money (a lot of it). So, those funny app are just ridiculous 🙂
PS: yes, I watch too much Sci-Fi.
Danny595
When you put yourself up for sale to strangers as a slab of meat, it’s not surprising that you would want to make pics of the meat look as appetizing as possible.
But none of this has anything to do with actual manhood or with normal, healthy sexual expression.
CastleSF
Not everyone can get chiseled abs or a defined chest, but every man can get facial hair in a week if they want to, I don’t understand why you need an app to grow facial hair.
Notright
*Gasp* A dating app is actually trying to help their customers get a boyfriend by giving them truthful advice! How dare they!!
DCguy
So explain this to me right wing troll.
How is photoshopping a picture so you look like a different person “The Truth”.
So on….waiting.
surreal33
What is truly problematic is gay men would actually use the software and app. This a reflection how lazy, inane and sad many gays are. I hope a day will come when gay men are beyond superficial garbage.
Harley
Yea. I’m past superficial garbage. I just stay home and watch SNL on Saturday night. Saves lots of money.
CastleSF
I fail to see how fundamentally wrong this app is. Yes, it is reprehensible to misrepresent yourself in your profile but the cheater will for sure receive a stern rejection at the potential date’s doorway anyway. The doctored photo will never lead to a successful date after all. On the other hand, it does give you an opportunity to envision a more beautiful you when you acquire those desired physical shapes one day.
miserylovedme24
I really don’t get why you would ever want to use a profile picture that isn’t accurate about how you look. It seems like that would be so extremely awkward once you actually meet someone. I’d rather be upfront about not being great looking. lol The looking manly part isn’t the story here.
tham
People are not the person they claim on the internet…for shame. What if other people figure this out…