Facebook Launches Avatar feature in US
Facebook has finally decided to join the avatar bandwagon along with Apple, Snapchat, and Samsung. Snapchat’s Bitmoji has been around for some time and for the few not aware of what it entails—it is a virtual avatar, an animated version of oneself.
Faceboook’s new Avatar feature has been launched in the US and it lets you create mini-mes of yourself to use while chatting, creating stories, etc on Messenger. The social media giant plans to introduce new avatar stickers for use in text posts. “So much of our interactions these days are taking place online, which is why it’s more important than ever to be able to express yourself personally on Facebook,” said Fidji Simo, head of the Facebook App. “We’re excited to bring this new form of self-expression to more people around the world.”
Faceboook’s New Avatar Feature
Avatars are a way to engage with friends and family in a fun and unique manner. One can choose a range of emotions to express oneself. The avatars will allow customizations as with Bitmoji and Samsung’s AR Emojis. You can choose different hairstyles, colors, clothes, accessories and whatnot.
Facebook’s bitmojis are already available in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada since 2019. Facebook started experimenting with the concept in 2018 itself.
You can create a Facebook Avatar by going to Facebook or Messenger comment composer and clicking on the Smiley button, and then the Sticker tab. It leads you to Create Your Avatar tab and then you can incorporate all that you need in your virtual animated self. As Simo says, “it’s important to us that you can personalize your avatar so it represents your unique, authentic self, which is why we’re also adding in a new range of customizations, too —such as new hairstyles, complexions, and outfits.”
And in this way, users will be engaged with the ecosystem of Facebook more. Just as Facebook has become a way to put out your lifestyle out there to friends and family, this will be another way to make an Avatar, where you can outfit yourself with the latest haircuts, and styles. Maybe it will be another avenue for Facebook to sell and advertise products from third parties brands. And even monetize the avatar accessories. We will just have to wait and watch.
Apple recently introduced the Memoji feature with the accessorizing options. You can have as many Memojis as you wish. You can edit, add and delete Memojis in the stickers tab. All updated iOS13 have the option in the tools tab of Messenger.
Facebook Avatars offer a very diverse range. But one thing that seems to be lacking is the older demographic, according to some people. This is strange as Facebook’s largest user demographic is in the 35 plus range.
It seems that Facebook is attempting to compete with Snapchat and get back in the good graces of the younger demographic.
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