Social media creativity has been reigned in by lockdown — being confined to your household doesn’t exactly lend itself to an exhilarating newsfeed. But social media platforms are rising to the challenge, finding new ways to spice up life in lockdown.
One novelty is Facebook's Avatar. The personalised cyber-self — much like Bitmoji — can be used in comments, Messenger and Stories on the app and online.
The social network debuted the technology in the US last week, after rolling it out in Europe in April. The company first began testing Avatars in Australia last June.
Here’s what you need to do to make your own.
How to create your Facebook Avatar:
1. Select the menu icon on your Facebook app (the three horizontal bars next to notifications and profile).
2. Under 'See More', you'll find the 'Avatars' option.
3. You'll be taken through some introductory slides - click 'Next' and then 'Get Started'
4. Then you can start customising. Use the toolbars to quickly navigate to your match...
5. You can edit a range of features, from skin tone, to hairstyle, eye shape and colour as well as clothing and accessories. Avatars are gender neutral - all you need is to choose the features that create your desired look. There is a wide range to choose from, spanning various cultures and faiths.
6. When you're happy with your new look, click the tick in the top-right corner
7. Press 'Next' and you can begin making first-hand cyber appearances in Messenger and more.
“So many 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,” posted Facebook application head Fidji Simo. “Avatars enable you to share a range of emotions and expressions via a digital persona that’s uniquely representative of you.”
