Sahar Wahbeh, the founder of Dumyé, a doll company, told me that avatars are just a newer model of dolls for adults. The joy of dressing something up to look like who you are or who you want to be is not just a digital phenomenon. Why not personalize them? Our ability to enjoy seeing a little cartoon version of ourselves online doesn’t hinge entirely on age, though the older users in Mark Zuckerberg’s comments certainly loved it. We already express ourselves through emojis when words fail. It’s now one of the worst things to be as a brand or a person on the internet instead, we must forsake our earnest enjoyment to signal that we are self-aware.īut not every platform has to be perfectly fine-tuned to only appeal to its freshest and edgiest users. Here’s the thing, though: I’m kind of excited.Īnything widely adored by enthusiastic middle-aged internet users is often deemed “cringe,” a word once used to describe secondhand embarrassment that has since gained moral value. The uncanny, blobby characters were previously quarantined to Facebook, which is an immediate red flag that they are uncool. The immediate reaction on Twitter was a thorough roasting of the idea as boomer-centric, outdated, and a sign of Instagram’s “ imminent demise.” This week, Mark Zuckerberg’s company (formerly known as Facebook) announced that it will be rolling out 3D avatars across multiple platforms, including Instagram, so users can choose the way they want to be “represented online.” This is an excerpt from Please Like Me, BuzzFeed News’ newsletter about how influencers are battling for your attention.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |