An optical illusion has taken over the internet, amassing more than 22 million views on Twitter — and even Joe Rogan couldn’t resist sharing it.
For reasons we may never fully understand, optical illusions have a way of captivating people. They can be frustrating, unsettling, or downright creepy, yet once we see them, we can’t look away. The latest example comes from a photo shared by Rogan, showing what looks like a simple picture of two children — but hidden within is a terrifying image of a woman’s face.
The picture isn’t brand new. It first gained traction in August last year when Josie Glabach posted it on Twitter. Since then, it has been viewed more than 22 million times, sparking countless reactions online.
The caption that accompanied the viral post read: “Nearsighted fam: take your glasses off and pull your phone away from you eyes. Look at the blonde girl.”
For those unfamiliar with the term “nearsighted” (or “shortsighted,” as it’s also called), the Mayo Clinic defines it as: “Nearsightedness is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear but far objects look blurry.”
The photo itself shows two children — one blonde, one brunette — sitting outdoors against a backdrop of greenery. At first glance, it appears perfectly ordinary. But a closer look reveals the haunting illusion.
The secret lies in the blonde girl. Tilt your perspective, squint your eyes, or if you’re nearsighted, remove your glasses, and the hidden face begins to emerge. The woman’s face appears angled at 45 degrees, her eyes formed by the shadows under the child’s neck and in her hair, her nose taking shape on the lower right side of the blonde girl’s hair, and her mouth hidden in the crease of the jumper near her chest.
Once you spot it, the image becomes impossible to unsee — which explains why so many online viewers have described it as both fascinating and disturbing.
As one commentator noted, optical illusions are endlessly engaging: they draw us in, keep us staring, and leave us questioning what we’re really looking at. And in this case, the unsettling illusion of a woman’s face has left millions feeling exactly the same way — creeped out, but unable to look away.
