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TikTok. The popular video app from Chinese company ByteDance has launched an update that introduces Tiktok custom avatars options for users in the United States and Canada. By selecting from one of eight different personalization options. Including the hairstyle skin tone, eye color, and accessories. Users can create an avatar that resembles them more closely than TikTok’s existing doodle-style character options. This marks the first time TikTok has allowed users to customize their own avatars. Since launching the app in China several years ago.
What Are These Apps?
If you’re an avid Snapchat user0, then you may have noticed that there are more apps popping up that offer similar features. Most notably, TikTok is quickly gaining popularity—and it has some cool features (such as customizable avatars) that Snapchat has. But what exactly is TikTok? It’s essentially a video. Sharing platform similar to Vine. You record short clips of yourself dancing or lip-syncing songs or even just reacting to something interesting in your day. The app offers all kinds of filters for making your videos look cool. To help keep things fresh, it also lets you choose one of many animated custom avatars for your profile pic.
What Sets Snapchat & Tiktok Apart?
Snapchat is a pioneer of custom avatars, while TikTok has access to more users. But both also have their drawbacks. Snapchat users can create custom masks called Lenses (such as sunglasses or cat ears). But not full avatars with complex personalities and gestures. As for TikTok? Well, you can create anything you want in a virtual world that has no boundaries…but its creators are still figuring out how to prevent inappropriate content from entering its universe (or keep it from appearing in Google search results). Still, need help deciding which one is right for you?
Why Do These New TikTok Custom Avatars Matter?
In a new update, TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) has added a set of features that make it much more competitive with Snapchat. Starting today, users can add a custom avatar for their account on either app (Snapchat has had custom avatars). These avatars take an extra step beyond just adding your face to your profile—you can use augmented reality to modify your facial features like nose size or eyebrows. In addition to fun avatars like monsters or superheroes, you can also now pick from thousands of pre-made options available in the app to change things like hair color or outfit. You can even use Apple’s camera effects on TikTok if you have iOS 13 installed!
Should Users of Other App Platforms Be Worried?
While it’s certainly true that Snapchat has a reputation for responding to user demand, it also isn’t clear whether Snapchat will allow users of other platforms to access these features at all. If not, TikTok stands to make some serious gains in terms of market share (as well as profits). If so—and if custom avatars become available across multiple platforms.
It could create a competitive situation between Snapchat and TikTok that no one wants: two apps trying to outdo each other in features rather than focusing on product development. The bottom line is that while custom avatars are great news for TikTok users (especially those who wanted more creative options), there are significant implications for its competitors.
Could TikTok Compete with Snap Inc.?
Users can create animated versions of themselves. In its announcement, TikTok said Now you can show off how good you look when you wake up or highlight your best features with #NewYou! TikTok also said that it could be integrated into group chats. This is similar to Snapchat’s Bitmoji feature where users can create customized avatars to use within chats. Of course, there are many other popular apps that allow users to upload custom avatars including Apple’s Messages app and Facebook Messenger. However, it takes much more for TikTok to compete with Snapchat. It is an app, much more used worldwide.
