WhatsApp trick lets you create your own avatar within seconds using a SELFIE – here’s how to try it

Science
By William
  • WhatsApp avatars allow you to create a cartoon likeness of yourself
  • Now, you can create these avatars within seconds by taking a live selfie

By Shivali Best for Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

It's a dilemma that many WhatsApp users face: which image should you use as your profile picture?

Last year, WhatsApp launched the Avatars feature, allowing you to create your cartoon likeness to use as your profile picture.

Now, the messaging app has made creating these avatars even simpler.

While users previously had to create these animations manually, WhatsApp now lets you create them within seconds – using a selfie.

Here's how to try out the new feature on your WhatsApp profile.

Last year, WhatsApp launched the Avatars app, allowing you to create your own cartoon likeness to use as your profile picture. Now, the messaging app has made creating these avatars even simpler

How to create an avatar with photo

  1. Open WhatsApp, then Settings.
  2. Tap your avatar, then tap Create your avatar.
  3. Click on start.
  4. Tap Allow Camera, then take a photo.
  5. Tap Camera to take a photo.
  6. You can either retake your photo or create your own avatar manually.
  7. Tap Skin Tone, then tap Next.
  8. Tap Make more edits or tap Done.

Meta rolled out avatars on WhatsApp in December last year, after seeing the tool's success on both Facebook and Instagram.

According to the tech giant, more than 1 billion Meta avatars have been created so far.

Until now, users had to create these avatars from scratch, choosing everything from skin tone to offset.

Now, Meta has made creating avatars even easier.

“You can now take a live selfie, and in seconds we will present you with a suggested avatar option created from your photo,” WhatsApp explained.

“You can choose from the available options and customize it further to best represent yourself.”

To try the new feature, open the WhatsApp application on your smartphone, and click on Settings.

Tap “Avatar,” then tap “Create your avatar.”

Tap Get Started, then Allow Camera and Take Photo.

WhatsApp explained:

“You can now take a live selfie and in seconds we will present you with a suggested avatar option created from your photo,” WhatsApp explained.

Take a selfie, then select a skin tone. If you're not satisfied with your selfie, you can choose to retake it at this point.

Within seconds, the app will appear with a suggested avatar, based on your profile picture.

If you're satisfied, click Done, or click Make More Adjustments to fine-tune your animation.

WhatsApp confirmed: “Your photo will not be used for any other purpose and will begin being processed for deletion immediately.”

So far, the feature has been tested with “some users” around the world, and will be rolled out globally starting today.

The new feature comes shortly after WhatsApp launched the ability to set secret codes in private chats.

As the name suggests, the feature allows you to set unique passwords for chats, ensuring that they stay away from any prying eyes.

“We are launching a secret code, which is an additional way to protect those chats and make them more difficult to find if someone has access to your phone or you share the phone with someone else,” WhatsApp said.

The best alternatives to WhatsApp

If you are thinking about deleting WhatsApp, you will be happy to know that there are many alternative apps to choose from:

1. Telegram

With over 400 million users, Telegram is one of the most popular WhatsApp alternatives.

Although it is very similar to WhatsApp, what sets it apart from others is the fact that it offers the option to set messages to self-destruct after a certain period of time, without leaving any trace.

Telegram also offers end-to-end encryption.

However, as a WhatsApp spokesperson noted, Telegram “does not offer end-to-end encryption by default, so it is not necessarily more secure than WhatsApp.”

2. Signal

Signal is one of the most secure messaging apps, thanks to it being open source.

This means that the app code is available for the public to view, making it nearly impossible for the app creators to sneak in any backdoors that might allow governments or hackers to spy on your messages.

3. iMessage

If you're using an iPhone, you might simply consider switching to iMessage, Apple's own messaging app.

The app has a number of great features including no character limits, the ability to send photos and videos, and of course Apple's animated emoji feature, Animoji.

Unfortunately, iMessage is only available to iPhone users, so you will find it difficult to interact with anyone using Android.

4. Google Messages

Google's answer to iMessage is Google Messages, a messaging service that only works on Android.

The app replaces your standard SMS app, and integrates with all Google apps and services, making it easy to share photos or use Google Assistant.

5. Facebook Messenger

If you've been put off using WhatsApp because it shares data with Facebook, Facebook Messenger may not be the best option for you.

However, the app offers a number of useful features, including games, secret chats, and video calls.

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