Facebook Avatars are now available in the U.S. starting today. Users can customize their digital counterparts and post them in Messenger chats and comments. The new feature is the social network's take on Snap's BitMoji app.
The Avatar is initially set up from either the Facebook or Messenger comment composer. From here, you can click on the smiley face icon that takes you to stickers. You will then see a new option: "Make Your Avatar." You can always edit your Avatar anytime from Facebook's Bookmark section. Simply click on "See More" then "Avatars."
In addition to Messenger conversations and Facebook comments, the Avatars can also be used on your Facebook Gaming profile. The company will enable usage in text posts soon. The company isn't yet sharing any metrics on the feature's adoption but did say Avatars have become particularly popular with the gaming community.
However, the source of inspiration for the feature, Bitmoji, has seen widespread adoption. Snap in January said that 70% of its daily active users created themselves a Bitmoji.
Facebook hasn't revealed its future plans for Avatars as of writing, but it appears the company is trying to catch up with its competitors in the social media industry.
It's obvious, however, that Snapchat popularized the concept, which has since been copied by several companies. For example, Apple has its Memoji, which was introduced in 2018. Google and Samsung have their versions as well.
But despite its delayed arrival, Facebook hasn't broken any new ground - for example, by introducing Avatars created automatically from your Facebook profile photo or those that move and react as in the popular Gen Z app, Facemoji.
Not a lot of people are into making digital recreations of themselves, but avatars are a form of self-expression that makes text and emoji even better. On social media, you can use an avatar to indicate a positive tone on your replies, so people won't misinterpret your message.
People have also come to love how they can cartoonize themselves and add some additions that they won't or can't do in real life. They can add piercings, goatees, glasses, and unicorn-colored hair, for example, or just go with their plain old selves, exactly how they look like for real.
Facebook will rollout Avatars starting today. If you don't see the feature yet, give it time. Rollouts are done gradually, but you should see it soon. As for other regions, the social network will make announcements soon.
