Meta recently added a new feature to its instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, called “Avatar.”
With this feature, users are able to create animated representations of themselves to use within the app. They can use any of these avatars as profile photos or as stickers while sending messages to WhatsApp contacts.
To check if this feature is available for your WhatsApp account, go to Settings and search for the new “Avatar” section.
Not all users have access to this new feature just yet, so if you don’t see this new tab, it’s because it’s not enabled for your account.
Follow the steps below to learn how to use this feature and create your first avatar;
- The first step is to ensure you have the latest version of the app on your smartphone. Once that is done, open WhatsApp and tap on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Now, click on “Settings” and then on “Avatar”.
- Next, click “Create your Avatar” and click “Get started”. This will land you to the page where you can personalise your avatar.
- Start by choosing the right skin tone for your avatar – select a tone and click “Next”.
- After that, you can choose a new look for your avatar’s hair from among the many different alternatives presented. You can also select your desired hair colour, face shape, face lines, eye shape, eye colour, facial hair, the body, and some other feature.
- Once you’ve made your choices, click “Done” and “Next” to begin using your avatar, either as a sticker or create a profile photo.
Avatars have been around for some time now, and can be found in a variety of apps including Facebook, TikTok, and of course, WhatsApp.
Having an online persona, or “avatar,” allows for richer, more nuanced social interactions and a more complete reflection of one’s online persona.
Like some researchers agreed, “people have positive emotions such as affection, connection, and passion toward avatars and that as the degree of identification with an avatar increases, the more they want to interact with it.”
Seeing that WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging app, users are really going to explore the use of avatars in their messaging with their contacts.
