Social media users have found a new topic to debate over and it seems like it's #MyBag and #ThatDress all over again, only this time the burning question on netizens' mind is: shiny legs or white paint?
The latest optical illusion is confusing the internet as netizens stay divided over whether the picture shared by a Twitter user (who goes by the handle @kingkayden) shows off shiny legs that are oily or if it is white paint.
How The Legs Optical Illusion Went Viral
The image in question was posted by Hunter Culverhouse on Instagram in September. It was spotted by @kinghayden and reposted on Twitter on Oct. 25. He merely queried on Twitter, with the pic in tow:
"Are these legs shiny and oily or are they legs with white paint on them."
The tweet went viral and caught the attention of social media junkies who began expending their energy trying to figure out whether the legs in question were lathered in some oily substance or white paint.
People are divided over the illusion and some think the legs are oddly glossy. However, eventually the netizens figured it out.
"@kingkayden once my eyes focused, I saw the paint. Now I can't see the shininess anymore," shared a Twitter user.
"Once i read it and understood it i see the white paint but at first i thought they were shiny," said another.
Yes, the legs are not lathered in plastic or any oil for that matter. The mysterious substance on the legs is white paint! Basically, the white streaks create an optical illusion, making one believe it is oil.
The fact that it was indeed white paint was confirmed by none other than the owner of the picture (and legs) - Culverhouse. She revealed that the illusion was unintended and had taken the picture after wrapping up homework for art class.
White Paint, Oil Or Plastic?
"[I] had some white paint left on my brush and put random lines on my legs, turned out to be a completely confusing picture for everyone on the internet," revealed Culverhouse in an email to Insider.
She did not fathom how viral the image had gone until people began commenting and sharing it on social media.
"The first time I posted it, it didn't go completely crazy. But then I reposted it again and other big accounts started to post it and share it. Then it took to Twitter and YouTubers started tweeting about it as well," she said.
The optical illusion post has been retweeted more than 16,360 times (at the time of writing) and has garnered nearly 22,000 likes. The original Instagram post from Culverhouse has garnered 5,700 likes so far.
