You can now have your own AVATAR on WhatsApp: users can create a digital version of themselves from billions of combinations of hairstyles, facial features and outfits
- WhatsApp revealed a new feature allowing users to create custom avatars
- The feature has been steadily rolling out to beta testers for a few months now
- Customizable characters are already available on Facebook and Instagram
- They can be used as a profile photo or sent as one of 36 personalized stickers
Avatars, the customizable virtual characters already available on Facebook and Instagram, are officially launched on WhatsApp starting today.
This means that users can create a digital version of themselves from billions of combinations of “various hairstyles, facial features and outfits”.
Avatars can be used as a profile photo or sent as one of 36 personalized stickers that reflect different emotions and actions.
These show your cartoon face representing your mood with applause, winks, thoughts and conversation flooding with tears.
Cartoon you: avatars, customizable virtual characters already available on Facebook and Instagram, are officially launched on WhatsApp from today
Meta had already rolled out the feature to Facebook and Instagram, but now WhatsApp users can also play around with ways to portray themselves without using a real photo.
It’s significant for the company because it represents the first vision of what Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hopes to bring to fruition in a Metaverse where people can work and play through their own avatars.
The concept is seen as the future of the internet and would blur the lines between the physical and digital worlds.
Zuckerberg described it as “the Internet incarnate”.
The term “metaverse,” coined in the 1992 dystopian novel “Snow Crash,” is used to describe immersive, shared spaces accessible across different platforms where the physical and the digital converge.
Announcing the new feature’s introduction to WhatsApp, Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook, “We’re bringing avatars to WhatsApp!
‘You can now use your avatar as a sticker in chats. More styles to come in all of our apps.’
Meta says it hopes to boost both privacy and personalization.
“Sending an avatar is a quick and fun way to share feelings with friends and family,” the company wrote in a blog post.
“It can also be a great way to portray yourself without using your real photo to make it feel more private.”
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp’s avatars feature has been slowly rolling out to beta testers on Android and iOS for a few months, but it will now be available to all users on mobile starting today.
“For many people, this will be your first time creating an avatar and we will continue to make style improvements including lighting, shading, hair textures, etc. that will make avatars even better at over time,” the blog added.
“We hope you enjoy creating and sharing your avatars, which will be rolling out globally starting today.”
Meta avatars are one of many virtual characters available on different platforms and messaging apps, including Bitmoji.
Sharing with Friends: Avatars can be used as a profile photo or sent as one of 36 personalized stickers that reflect different emotions and actions (photo).
These 2D characters are now owned by Snap, while Apple and Samsung also offer avatars in the form of Memoji and AR Emoji, respectively.
Staying on the metaverse theme, facebook last year has launched a virtual reality meeting app called Horizon Workrooms which it hopes will one day rival Zoom and Skype.
It lets users hold boardroom-style meetings with cartoon avatars of their co-workers, and is part of Zuckerberg’s ambition to turn Facebook into a futuristic “metaverse.”
Even Zuckerberg has his own avatar, which he debuted during a demonstration.
Even Zuckerberg has his own avatar, which he debuted at the time during a demonstration.
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