TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos. Since launching in 2016, TikTok has grown to over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (source). One of the key features that makes TikTok fun and engaging are its filters and effects.
Filters on TikTok allow users to transform their appearance and add creative elements to their videos. Some of the most popular filters include the green screen effect, beauty filters to enhance facial features, and the popular “duet” filter that allows reacting to another user’s video side-by-side. TikTok is best known for its augmented reality (AR) filters that overlay digital effects and objects onto a person’s face or environment in real-time.
What are avatars?
An avatar is defined by Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avatar) as “a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity.” In other words, an avatar is an illustrated representation of a user in a virtual or online environment.
On social media platforms like TikTok, avatars allow users to create a virtual persona or character to represent themselves. As Dictionary.com (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/avatar) explains, avatars are “composed of human and alien DNA and remotely controlled by the mind of a genetically matched human being.” In the context of TikTok, users have full control over customizing their avatar’s appearance, much like creating a character in a video game.
Avatars serve as a user’s illustrated alter ego and give them more creative freedom in how they present themselves. Cambridge Dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/avatar) defines avatars as “an image that represents you in online games, chat rooms, etc. and that you can move around the screen.” TikTok’s avatars function in a similar way – as illustrated representations of users that add a new visual element to their content and online presence.
Why use avatars?
Avatars allow users to represent themselves in a stylized, customizable way. Rather than using a real photo, an avatar provides more control over privacy and self-expression. According to MootUp, avatars enable users to project any identity they want, ranging from realistic to fantastical. This gives users more freedom to decide how they want to portray themselves online.
Additionally, avatars can help protect user privacy. Showing an avatar instead of your actual face keeps your real identity hidden. As noted by Immerse, this allows users to participate online without compromising their privacy or safety. The anonymity provided by avatars creates a layer of protection.
In summary, avatars give users creative license to style an online persona how they wish. Avatars also enable participation on social platforms with an added degree of privacy.
History of avatars on TikTok
TikTok first began experimenting with avatars in 2021 when it started allowing some users to upload custom avatar stickers in comments (1). These initial avatar stickers provided a limited set of premade options to choose from, with no ability to fully customize or create your own avatar.
In December 2021, TikTok began testing the ability for users to create personalized avatars in select markets like Australia and New Zealand (2). This initial rollout allowed custom avatar creation but was only enabled for a small test group of users.
TikTok continued testing and refining avatars throughout 2022, slowly expanding the feature’s availability. However, it wasn’t until June 2022 that TikTok launched customizable 3D avatars for all users globally, allowing full avatar creation and use across the platform (1).
(1) https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/express-yourself-through-tiktok-avatars
(2) https://moviemaker.minitool.com/moviemaker/tiktok-avatars.html
Official rollout of avatars
TikTok officially launched avatars for all users in January 2023. After testing avatars in select markets like South Korea in late 2022, TikTok began rolling out avatars more widely on January 30, 2023 (https://www.tiktok.com/discover/avatar-release-date). This marked the full global launch of customizable 3D Bitmoji-style avatars on TikTok.
With the official rollout, all TikTok users worldwide could now create their own unique virtual avatar to use in videos and messages. Users could choose from a variety of hair, eyes, outfits, and other features to customize their avatar to their liking. The avatar would then automatically mimic the user’s facial expressions and movements when used in videos (https://www.tiktok.com/@blurayangel11/video/7306429220669115694).
The launch of avatars opened up new creative opportunities for users to express themselves on TikTok in an animated way. Over time, TikTok promised to expand avatar features and use cases beyond just commenting on videos.
Where to find the avatar filter
TikTok launched the avatar filter in January 2023. It is available to all TikTok users globally within the video editing filters. Here are the step-by-step instructions for accessing the avatar filter:
- Open the TikTok app and go to the camera to create a new video.
- Tap the “+” icon to open the effects menu.
- Scroll down and tap on “Filters”.
- Under “Trending” you will find the avatar filter. Tap on it to select it.
- You can now record a video with your personalized avatar.
The avatar filter icon looks like a person’s head with sparkles around it. It may take some scrolling to find it if you haven’t used it before. But once selected it will show up in your “Frequently Used” section for quicker access next time. The filter will automatically generate a customizable avatar based on your facial features that you can use when creating TikTok videos.
Customizing your avatar
Once you’ve created your TikTok avatar, you have plenty of options for customizing its appearance. You can change your avatar’s facial features, hairstyle, outfit, and more in the Avatar customization menu.
To access the customization menu, tap on your profile picture on the Me page and then tap “Edit Avatar.” This will open up the customization screen where you can modify your avatar’s look.
You can choose from a wide selection of different hairstyles, outfits, accessories and more. Tap on a category like “Hair” or “Outfits” to browse the different options. Select a new hair style or outfit to immediately see it applied to your avatar.
The customization menu allows you to tweak small details as well. You can modify your avatar’s facial features like eyes, nose, mouth and more. There’s also options for adjusting your avatar’s skin tone, face shape, and other attributes.
TikTok will likely continue expanding the avatar customization options over time. But even now, you have plenty of controls for making your avatar match your personal style. Customizing your avatar helps make it feel more like a representation of you in the TikTok universe.
Using your avatar
Once you’ve created your customized avatar, there are several ways you can incorporate it into your TikTok presence:
In your profile – You can set your avatar as your profile picture to give your account a unique look. This makes it easy for followers to recognize your videos.
In your videos – Include your avatar in your videos by adding the avatar sticker. You can make your avatar dance along to trends, react to things on screen, or interact with other elements in creative ways. This adds a fun, animated touch to your videos.
On merchandise – TikTok lets you add your avatar to merchandise like t-shirts, phone cases and more. So you can take your avatar off platform and into the real world.
In effects and filters – Some effects and filters on TikTok are designed specifically for avatars. These let you accessorize your avatar, change backgrounds, and more. So you can customize your avatar even further.
TikTok avatars open up new creative possibilities for engaging with your audience. Whether in your profile, videos or merchandise, your customized avatar helps express your unique personality on TikTok.
Avatar limitations
While TikTok’s avatars allow for a good amount of customization, there are some limitations users should be aware of:
The main aspect that can’t be changed is your avatar’s facial structure and base features like eyes, nose, and mouth. You can customize your avatar’s hair, facial hair, outfit, and accessories, but the face itself stays the same (Source: https://socialsizes.io/tiktok-profile-picture-size/). This makes it hard to create an avatar that looks exactly like you if your facial features don’t match the avatar options.
There are also some missing customization features that users have requested. For example, you can’t customize your avatar’s body type or height. All avatars have the same basic body shape. Users have also asked for more diverse skin tone options and better representation for features like afros, hijabs, and natural hair (Source: https://promo.com/blog/tiktok-pfp-guide-for-your-business).
While TikTok may expand avatar customization options in the future, for now these limitations mean your avatar may not fully reflect your desired look and identity.
Future of TikTok Avatars
TikTok avatars are still in the early stages of development but have significant potential for expanded features and uses in the future. According to TikTok, they plan to add more customization options beyond hair, facial features, and outfits [1]. Potential new customizations could include more diverse skin tones, hair styles, facial features, body types, accessories, and background options. This would allow users to create an avatar that closely matches their real appearance.
In terms of uses, avatars on TikTok are currently limited to being profile pictures. However, TikTok may expand the functionality to enable using avatars in videos, messages, comments, and other creative ways. For example, users could potentially use their avatar as a virtual host in videos in place of showing their real face. Avatars could also be used in augmented reality effects and features. Overall, the launch of avatars marks TikTok’s push into the metaverse and virtual identities.
