Meta has just announced that it has introduced 3D avatars in Instagram Stories and in direct messages , and to have updated the avatars on Facebook and Messenger. users from the United States, Canada and Mexico can appear in virtual form in stickers, Feed posts, Facebook profile pictures and more on the Meta platforms , including its Quest VR platform. With an increased focus on identity, the new avatars will include new face shapes and assistive devices such as cochlear implants , hearing aids and wheelchairs to be more inclusive of users.
The new avatars are a further step towards the metaverse , which according to Aigerim Shorman, general manager of Meta for avatars and identities, is “a interconnected digital world , combining VR and AR but also more familiar platforms such as phones and computers “.
Commenting on the announcement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a post stating that “One day you will have more avatars ranging from expressive to photorealistic “.
Meta will release the fourth quarter report on February 2 and the company has stated that it will publish the results for the first time for its AR and VR Reality Labs unit, so as to provide a look at the financial impact of the Metaverse on society.
