Former prisoners have taken to social media to share what shocked them most about the world when they got out - and the answers may surprise you.

A recent Reddit thread asked users: "People who did a long time in prison, what was your biggest shock of the outside world?"

The question clearly struck a chord when it was posted on the social media website, and it wasn't long before prisoners and their loved ones alike began to share their stories about the most surprising things they realized about society when they finally regained their freedom.

One of the most upvoted responses was from the son of a former prisoner who wrote: "My father was incarcerated from 2003 to 2016 and the biggest shock for him was technology and how much McDonald's has raised prices."

A McDonald's meal. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Alamy / Kristoffer Tripplaar]]

A second user, mycatsnameisgregory, wrote: "A friend of mine was very surprised by the new Coke Freestyle machines!"

A third user, Rapunzel6506, revealed: "One of the hardest things for me once I got out was making choices. Let me explain: In prison, you might have two choices for shampoo if you're lucky. The first time I went shopping for hygiene essentials was at Target.

"I remember being so overwhelmed by the amount of choices for shampoo and having no idea which one to get. I stood in that aisle and cried for a few minutes before I just left without getting anything."

"Just money in general...You have no idea how to handle money. That takes a little time to get used to," added tinkinoutsidedabox.

A man handing over money. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels / Lukas]]

However, sometimes the things that can surprise former prisoners are a lot more bizarre. Case in point.

"My old boss spent seven years behind bars," shared GOAT1915. "He said the morning he got out, his grandmother picked him up and they went to Target. He said his eyes were hurting because he hadn't seen the color red in years."

A target store. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Alamy / B Christopher]]

"My bro only did a year, but he was let out with a guy who did 30+ years," added ImsoAmerican. "He tells the story of him having to explain a smartphone to the other guy. 'Imagine anything you want. Whatever you want, and whatever you want to know...it's on your phone now.'"

This wasn't the first prisoner to be shocked at the development of technology while they were behind bars. Another shared how much it disturbed them.

"I went in around the first iPhone," wrote DRACOSAPIEN. "Came out around 2014 and what disturbed me the most wasn't so much smartphones but how everyone everywhere had one in their hand staring at it. It felt very Black Mirror/Twilight Zone-ish."

A woman using a smartphone. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels / Giftpundits.com]]

"Just got out," wrote vexterion1. "Weirdest thing was seeing all these damn scooters laying everywhere."

However, as this prisoner shared, while there are the obvious changes that can take place while a person is behind bars, sometimes it really is the simple things that can shock you.

"I had a TA in college who was an ex-felon due to a dumb situation he got involved in when he was a teenager. He was tried as an adult and did 10 years," wrote maxxamillion04. "When he got out, he said the strongest immediate impression he got was from trees. He said they were so huge and looming, and he always felt like they were leaning toward him, like they were about to fall over."

A tree. [[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels / Snapwire]]

And sometimes you appreciate the simple things more than ever before.

"My brother just recently got out after four years!" shared dessertneutral. "The first thing he did was take a shower, then run his feet along the carpet in the house. He said he 'just had to.'"

But sometimes the outside world and its advances can seem brilliant to prisoners. Like these former inmates who couldn't get over the power of Spotify.

"I have two family members who did a very decent amount of time...and of all the things that could've blown their mind, Spotify was the biggest," wrote malemartian. "Even the obscure house artists they were buddies with back in '89 were on there. Not having to burn any CDs or buy records. They still can't get over it."

Featured image credit: Pexels / Jimmy Chan

People who've spent time in prison are sharing the things that shocked them most once they got out