WhatsApp Presents 3D Avatars as Digital Versions of Users

JAKARTA - Meta introduces avatars to WhatsApp as a new and personal way to express yourself. This new feature is presented for Android and iOS users.

Users can create their own 3D virtual character and set it as a profile picture or share it as one of 36 custom stickers.

This is the first time Meta as parent WhatsApp has introduced the feature to the messaging app, having rolled it out to other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.

"We're bringing avatars to WhatsApp. Now you can use your avatar as a sticker in chats. More style coming to all apps soon," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page.

WhatsApp in its official blog quoted on Thursday, December 8, said that this new avatar is a digital version of the user, and claims it will increase privacy and personalization.

“Your avatar is a digital version of you that can be created from billions of different combinations of hairstyles, facial features, and clothing. On WhatsApp, you can now use a personalized avatar as your profile photo," said WhatsApp.

“Sending avatars is a fast and fun way to share feelings with friends and family. It can also be a great way to represent yourself without using a real photo so it feels more personal."

Users can customize hair style, skin color and clothes. However, additional improvements such as lighting, shadows and textures will be introduced in the next update.

Unfortunately, users cannot transfer avatars created in other Meta apps to WhatsApp. This new feature can be found in the app settings under the user's profile picture.

It should be noted that only users running the latest version of the app will have access to that personalized avatar.