Should Photoshopping Ads be regulated?

This is an interesting article about what they are trying to do in the UK to stop the extreme use of photoshop in the media. Almost everything we look at in magazines and advertisements has probably been photoshopped to some degree. Sometimes, it makes sense, but at other times it can be extremely deceptive.

A friend of mine recently got married and mentioned that for just that one day she wished she didn't have the tattoo on her shoulder that showed up in all the pictures. So should she photoshop it out? It makes it a bit untruthful since she did actually have the tattoo on that day and did not even try to cover it up. Anyone who was there would probably be able to recall that if they had noticed it. But if they went back to look at pictures, which had been photoshopped, it wouldn't be there. I can't see how it actually hurts as long as you are truthful about it and readily admit why you did it.

In the media, on the other hand, we never get to talk to the individuals about the choices they made and why. Perhaps a notice that photoshop has been used and for what purpose at the bottom of the picture would help keep people accountable. Either that, or as consumers we just need to assume that everything has been photoshopped and nothing is the whole truth.