What are avatars?
Avatars are small profile pictures that users can set to represent themselves on messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Avatars allow users to personalize their profiles and stand out from others in group chats. Many messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and Telegram have customizable avatars, leading WhatsApp users to wonder why they don’t have access to avatars.
The benefits of avatars
Avatars offer several benefits for users:
- They add personality and flair to conversations.
- They help identify who is speaking in busy group chats.
- They let users express themselves creatively.
- They are more customizable than standard profile pictures.
- They are fun to create and collect.
With customizable avatars, users can choose hairstyles, outfits, accessories and more to design an avatar that reflects their personal style. This level of customization enables self-expression.
Avatars on other platforms
Here are some examples of messaging platforms that support avatars:
- Facebook Messenger – Users can create personalized avatars with various facial features, outfits, and accessories.
- Snapchat – Users can create Bitmojis which are cartoon avatars designed to look like the user.
- Telegram – Users can choose from a wide selection of illustrated avatars and add customization like masks.
- Slack – Users can upload image avatars and enhance them with accessories like hats and face masks.
The avatar features on these platforms demonstrate the appeal of avatars for messaging app users today.
Why doesn’t WhatsApp have avatars?
Given the popularity of avatars on other apps, why doesn’t WhatsApp have customizable avatars for users yet? There are a few potential reasons.
Prioritizing other features first
WhatsApp may have prioritized building other features above avatars up until now. For example, in recent years WhatsApp has focused engineering resources on improving encryption, group video calling, disappearing messages, WhatsApp Pay, and more.
Avatars may have taken a backseat during development in favor of features deemed more essential for users.
Design considerations
WhatsApp likely wants to implement avatars in a way that aligns with the app’s trademark minimalist design. Figuring out how to integrate avatars seamlessly into the user experience requires design thinking.
Things like allowing users to easily create, manage and switch between multiple avatars could take time to develop and execute.
Caution around data privacy
WhatsApp is known for its encrypted messaging and emphasis on privacy. The company may be cautious about the increased data collected and stored when enabling avatar customization.
To make avatars work well, WhatsApp would need to gather data like facial features, hair color, clothing choices, and more. This data collection could raise privacy concerns if not handled transparently.
Limitations of WhatsApp’s codebase
Under the hood, WhatsApp was originally built without avatar functionality in mind. Reworking the codebase to support avatars now requires engineering resources.
Integrating avatars likely involves updating WhatsApp’s servers, apps, web platform, API, and more. These sweeping technical changes take time for a company WhatsApp’s scale.
Focus on business messaging features
Recently, WhatsApp has been tailoring features like WhatsApp Business and enterprise messaging API support for business users. These tools help businesses connect with customers on WhatsApp.
Building out commercial features that drive revenue may have edged out avatars for general users so far in WhatsApp’s roadmap.
When will WhatsApp release avatars?
Though WhatsApp has yet to launch customizable avatars, they have hinted that avatars are in the works. Here are some signs avatars could arrive soon:
Avatar references in WhatsApp code
Code spotted within recent WhatsApp updates includes references like “avatar picker” and “avatar uploader.” This suggests avatar functionality has been in active development behind the scenes.
Surveys asking for user feedback
WhatsApp occasionally surveys users about potential new features. Some recent surveys have specifically asked for feedback on avatar features, indicating it’s being considered.
Avatars rolled out on WhatsApp Desktop
In 2020, WhatsApp did activate static avatars for WhatsApp Desktop. This initial rollout may have been a pilot test prior to enabling custom avatars everywhere.
Facebook integration
Since WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, there’s incentive to integrate avatar creation across Facebook’s messaging platforms. This would let avatars seamlessly cross over onto WhatsApp.
How WhatsApp can implement avatars
When WhatsApp eventually rolls out avatars, how might they work? Here’s what users could expect:
Customizable avatar builder
Like other messaging apps, WhatsApp would likely provide in-app avatar customization tools. Preset options would let you change avatar hairstyles, facial features, outfits, and accessories.
Sticker integration
In chats, your avatar could auto-convert to stickers expressing different emotions like joy, surprise, anger, etc. Sending avatar stickers could be an alternative to sending emoji reactions.
Profile avatars
Each user would have the option to add their customized avatar as their profile photo so friends can easily identify them. Tap on a contact’s avatar to enlarge it.
Multiple avatars
Let users create and swap between different avatars to match their mood or interests. Switching avatars could be as easy as changing profile pictures.
Avatar frames
Special avatar frames, like those for holidays or events, could allow further customization and self-expression.
Animated avatars
To make avatars more lively, WhatsApp could animate them using gestural movements and facial expressions as seen on other platforms.
Third-party avatar integrations
WhatsApp may let you port over avatars created on other apps so you don’t have to build them from scratch. App integrations could also enable cross-platform avatar use.
Security considerations for avatars
Enabling avatar creation does introduce moderation challenges around inappropriate content. Here are some ways WhatsApp could keep avatars safe and secure:
| Security measure | Description |
|---|---|
| Blacklisted content | Ban offensive imagery, text, and symbols from being used in avatars |
| Age ratings | Restrict access to adult content in avatar customization for underage users |
| Automatic nudity detection | Use AI to identify and remove inappropriate avatar content |
| Human content moderation | Employ human reviewers to audit avatar content flagged as inappropriate |
| User reporting | Let users report offensive avatars for review by moderators |
| Parental controls | Give parents ability to disable avatar functionality for kids’ accounts |
Conclusion
The lack of avatar support remains a noticeable gap in WhatsApp’s features compared to other messaging apps. Avatars would enable great self-expression for WhatsApp’s over 2 billion users. Recent clues indicate avatar functionality may roll out soon after years of waiting.
With prudent design and moderation, avatars could make conversing on WhatsApp an even more personalized and engaging experience. If integrated smoothly, avatars have the potential to become a beloved aspect of WhatsApp’s messaging platform.