Meta's 3D Avatars Launched In India For Facebook, Instagram And Messenger: Details

Starting Tuesday (May 24) Meta, formerly, Facebook, users in India will be able to appear as their virtual selves via feed posts, stickers and Facebook profile pictures.

For the first time 3D avatars will be available on Instagram Stories and DMs as well. Image: Meta

New Delhi: Starting Tuesday (May 24) Meta, formerly, Facebook, users in India will be able to appear as their virtual selves via feed posts, stickers and Facebook profile pictures across the company's host of apps and its virtual reality (VR) platform as Meta launched its updated 3D avatars to Facebook and Messenger in the country.

The new 3D Avatars are more expressive, more customisable and more diverse, according to the company. To better reflect the billions of unique people on this planet, Meta is adding new facial shapes and assistive devices for people with disabilities. The rollout of Meta's 3D avatars in India comes almost five months after the company had introduced 3D avatars for Instagram in Mexico, the US and Canada.

“Representations in the metaverse should reflect the diversity of the real world. Avatars are just the first step toward enabling everyone to express themselves in their unique ways. When you create your avatar you can choose the right facial features, body types, clothing styles, and more to create your virtual self. We offered more than one quintillion different combinations when we launched our updated avatars last year, and we’re continuing to add more options to give people even more ways to express themselves," Manish Chopra, Director and Head Partnerships, India at Meta, said in a statement.

Meta rolling out 3D avatars for Instagram Stories and DMs

Meta is rolling out updated 3D avatars to Facebook and Messenger, and for the first time they will be available on Instagram Stories and DMs as well.

Today’s update adds Cochlear implants and over-the-ear hearing aids (for one or both ears) in a number colours, and on all platforms including VR. It also includes wheelchairs, which will appear in stickers on Facebook, in Messenger chats and in DMs on Instagram. Meta will continue to add more options over time based on feedback from the community.

According to the company, it added new eyes and noses, beards and hairstyles, outfits, body types and more though last year. New items will continue to be added to the avatar editor throughout 2022.