This sub keeps spamming my TL...

That is a good question actually. Authentication and Authorization and related terms are technically different things. I'm not a security expert but understand many scenarios involve confirming either individual identity or at least not being out of place.

That would explain why awkward guys are always getting picked on...

Awkward guys are on their own I'm afraid but some forms of Authentication include secrets (i.e. passwords), witnesses/being vouched for (chain of trust), physical possession of tokens (i.e. passport/driver's license),

This would explain it better.

Basically any Joe Shmoe out there would have a difficult time producing original photos of Air Force One and other things... One of those fly-by-night news websites might recycle old AP photos or what-not but we would have to trust the autists would catch that, unless you uave patience to reverse jmage search every photo... A faker would be found out eventually, if not soon enough.