TikTok launches its own animated avatars

TikTok introduced TikTok Avatars, a new way for people to showcase their individuality on the popular short video platform. Users can now choose from an array of hairstyles, accessories, piercings and makeup, to create a TikTok Avatar.

The company says TikTok Avatars are now available worldwide and will continue to be developed and innovated to ensure the experience truly represents everyone on TikTok. Following in the footsteps of rivals like Meta and Snap, TikTok’s this move feels like a step towards multiplayer games and the metaverse where avatars are very popular.

To get started, you can open the effects section in the TikTok app and search for the Avatar effect. From there, you’ll be able to customize your Avatar to fit your preferences.

“​​From outfits to skin tones and hair color down to texture, building inclusive features and experiences remains our priority, and we’ll continue to listen to our community and look to creators for feedback at every step of its development,” TikTok explained. 

TikTok also said it is building spaces across the app for self-expression and expanding on the ways people connect and create across our global community. Back in April, the company made its Effect House platform open to all creators, designers and developers from around the world.

Effect House offers tools and learning resources, equipping creators with intuitive design and development technologies that would empower them to build immersive and dynamic effects for TikTok’s global community.