TikTok Avatars has been in the works since January this year
To try it out yourself, switch to selfie mode on TikTok camera and navigate to avatars from the list of effects. Users can either use a preset look or tap “new” to make a custom avatar. You can extensively edit your avatar with attributes like hairstyle, skin tone, face shape, accessories, piercings, makeup, and so on. Once created, users can capture a video with the onscreen avatar reflecting their facial expressions and movement. Frankly, it’s surprising that a feature like this has taken so long to arrive on TikTok. As The Verge notes, companies like Apple and Meta offer similar features, known as Memoji and Avatars, respectively. But in TikTok’s defense, the feature has been in the works since at least January this year.
In a blog post, TikTok said it intends to make the feature as inclusive as possible. The company went on to say that it would continue to “improve and innovate” the experience to ensure it represents all of its users. “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,” the company said.
TikTok is also working on a “Clear Mode” feature for videos
We recently learned that the social media app is testing a feature known as “Clear Mode” to enable a smooth viewing experience. As the name suggests, Clear Mode switches the content to full-screen while removing usernames, onscreen buttons, and captions. The feature was under testing last week, though there’s no word on its wider availability. TikTok has emerged as one of the top social media apps in the presence of Instagram, Snapchat, and others. With millions of users to its name, there’s no doubt that TikTok will continue to dominate the social media landscape for the foreseeable future.
