In an attempt to further build on engagement using its
avatar feature, Meta has launched a new functionality that allows users to
appear on video calls as their avatar characters, on Instagram and Messenger.
“Sometimes, we’re just not camera-ready,” says Meta
explaining how using your Meta avatar in place of your own video can be a great
way to interact on video calls without having to worry about your appearance. The
avatars on video calls will work by responding to and following users’ facial
moves.
Alongside avatar calls, Meta is also bringing animated
avatar stickers to Instagram and Facebook Reels and Stories, comments on Facebook,
as well as within one on one chats on Messenger and Instagram. “We wanted to
put a little more action in those action verbs and truly bring
your convos to life,” says the tech giant.
The avatar sticker frenzy doesn’t end here; users can also tag
friends in their avatar stickers, depicting virtual interactions with each
other. “You and your friends’ avatars can hang out and do things together in
the metaverse just like you do IRL,” Meta suggests.
Another advance avatar creation option that users can
expect, consists of the ability to create your avatar based on your selfie on
WhatsApp and Facebook. Users will be enabled to take their live selfies and within
a few seconds, Meta will show them suggested avatar options generated from the
selfies. The avatar selfies can be further customized too. Meta clarified that
since the process is long-term, the company will therefore keep testing,
refining, and improving the feature over time.
