Facebook launches Avatars in the U.S. that look like Snapchat’s Bitmoji

Facebook has launched avatars for its audience in the United States. Facebook users will be able to create illustrated representations of themselves on the platform. The Head of Facebook App, Fidji Simo, posted the release announcement on Facebook with an expressive avatar of herself.

As per the announcement, avatars are being specifically released during the COVID-19 pandemic to give users more expressive and interactive means to represent themselves online.

Fidji Simo wrote:

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. Avatars enable you to share a range of emotions and expressions via a digital persona that’s uniquely representative of you, so we’re excited to bring this new form of self-expression to more people around the world.

The avatars can be used across Facebook’s app, in Stories and comments, and in Messenger, to make interactions on the platform more expressive by sharing emotions, feelings, and more. Fidji Simo also shared that texts post with backgrounds will also be launched soon.

How to create avatars on Facebook

Currently, avatars can only be created by users in the United States. Avatars will make user’s online persona more expressive and experience more entertaining. Follow these steps to turn yourself into an avatar on Facebook:

1. Open Facebook or Messenger comment composer.
2. Click on the smiley button > sticker tab.
3. Click the ‘Create your Avatar’ option. Follow the wizard-based interface to create your avatar.

The platform offers a variety of expressive facial and physical features along with unique customization features like hairstyles, outfits, and more to create creative avatars.

Facebook’s avatar feature has the same functionality as Snapchat’s Bitmoji app, which allows you to transform yourself into a cartoonish representation of yourself. This is yet another example of a feature that Facebook or Instagram have copied from Snapchat after the company made it popular.

As exciting as it sounds, many people around the globe will not be able to use the new feature and will have to wait until the company releases it to everyone.