Editing Avatar (computing) (section)

==Customization==
Early examples of customizable avatars include multi-user systems, including [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]]s.<ref name=bear>{{cite web|last=Bear|first=Amy|title=Me, My Self, My Character, and I: Role-playing Identities in Ludic Space.|url=http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/me-my-self-my-character-and-i/|work=Online Conference on Networks and Communities|access-date=15 December 2012|date=27 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727210310/http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/me-my-self-my-character-and-i/|archive-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gaia Online]] has a customizable avatar where users can dress it up as desired.<ref>{{cite web|last=Au|first=Wagner James|title=Move over MySpace, Gaia Online is here|url=http://gigaom.com/2007/04/22/move-over-myspace-gaia-online-is-here/comment-page-2/|work=GigaOm|access-date=15 December 2012|date=22 April 2007}}</ref> Users may earn credits for completing sponsored surveys or certain tasks to purchase items and upgrades to customize their avatar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morgan|first=KC|title=What's So Great About IMVU?|url=http://tools.devshed.com/c/a/Website-Marketing/Whats-So-Great-About-IMVU/|work=Website Marketing|access-date=15 December 2012|date=10 March 2010|archive-date=3 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203043152/http://tools.devshed.com/c/a/Website-Marketing/Whats-So-Great-About-IMVU/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Linden Lab]]'s ''Second Life'' creates a [[virtual world]] in which avatars, homes, decorations, buildings and land are for sale.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hopkins|first=Curt|title=Second Life Economy At Record High|url=http://readwrite.com/2010/04/28/second_life_economy_at_record_high|work=ReadWritePlay|publisher=SAY Media, Inc.|access-date=15 December 2012|date=28 April 2010}}</ref> Less-common items may be designed to appear better than common items, and an experienced player may be identified from a group of new characters before in-game statistics are seen.<ref name="bear" />

===Avatar Generators===
To meet the demand for millions of unique, customized avatars, generator tools and services have been created.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/172320/cartoon_you_creating_easy_avatars.html |title=Cartoon You: Creating Easy Avatars |author=Pariah S. Burke, Macworld.com |date=September 21, 2009 |magazine=PC World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221110659/https://www.pcworld.com/article/172320/cartoon_you_creating_easy_avatars.html|archive-date=February 21, 2010}}</ref> Many of them, such as the website [[Picrew]], are based around works by original artists.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rachel|last=Leishman|url=https://www.themarysue.com/avatar-trend-twitter/ |title=What Is This New Picrew Avatar Trend? |website=The Mary Sue |date=May 27, 2020|access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> The 2021 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] featured an avatar creator, to align with its new all-digital nature.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ash|last=Parrish|url=https://kotaku.com/e3-avatar-creator-the-kotaku-review-1847049829 |title= E3 Avatar Creator: The Kotaku Review |website=Kotaku |date=July 6, 2021|access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Awareness avatars===
[[File:Example social media profile pic.png|thumb|upright|Example user image with a [[Rainbow flag (LGBT)|rainbow flag]] across one corner]]
Some people add visual details or effects to their avatars to show support for a movement or issue, in a similar way to a physical [[awareness ribbon]].

The awareness avatar may have first been used in the [[New Zealand Internet Blackout]], to protest copyright law changes in New Zealand. Globally, protesters replaced their icons with black squares to show solidarity. The protest was successful and proved the method effective at both raising awareness and effecting change. Campaigns have used this method include:

* Black avatar: February 16–23, 2009 [[New Zealand Internet Blackout]] protesting copyright law changes in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creativefreedom.org.nz/blackout.html |title=Join the Internet Blackout - Protest Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ — Creative Freedom Foundation (Creativefreedom.org.nz) |accessdate=2009-06-27 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429074200/http://creativefreedom.org.nz/blackout.html |archivedate=2009-04-29 }}</ref>
* Yellow tint: Beginning June 17, 2009, to protest the increasing size and role of the United States government.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Menendez |first1=Ed |title=Ed Menendez Blog - Bush + Obama Debt = Slavery |url=http://menendez.com/blog/bush-obama-debt-slavery/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330012406/http://menendez.com/blog/bush-obama-debt-slavery/ |date=June 29, 2009 |archive-date=March 30, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Green tint: Beginning June 18, 2009 support for [[Iran election protests]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kraskin |first1=Michael |title=Going Green for Iran |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/18/going-green-for-iran/ |website=Politics Daily |access-date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620234907/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/18/going-green-for-iran/ |archive-date=June 20, 2009}}</ref>
* French flag tint: Beginning November 13, 2015 to show support for France after the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sanders|first1=Sam|last2=Mutnick|first2=Ally|date=2015-11-21|title=#MemeOfTheWeek: French Flags On Facebook|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/11/21/456820583/-memeoftheweek-french-flags-on-facebook|access-date=2022-02-01}}</ref>
* During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], users added [[surgical mask]]s and [[respirator]]s on the faces of characters and avatars.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} Websites such as [[Facebook]] officially supported these efforts by adding the option for several frames supporting the [[COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guynn |first1=Jessica |title=How to add 'I got my COVID vaccine' frame to your Facebook profile |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/04/01/facebook-covid-vaccine-profile-frames/4829274001/ |website=USA Today |access-date=5 November 2021 |date=1 April 2021}}</ref> Conversely, [[anti-vaccine]] advocates have used profile frames to state their opposition to it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fiener |first1=Lauren |title=Facebook races to remove anti-vaccine profile picture frames |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/14/facebook-races-to-remove-anti-vaccine-profile-picture-frames.html |website=CNBC |access-date=5 November 2021 |date=14 May 2021}}</ref>
* Rainbow patterns to represent membership or solidarity with the [[LGBT community]].<ref name="Rainbow">{{cite news |last1=Dewey |first1=Caitlin |title=More than 26 million people have changed their Facebook picture to a rainbow flag. Here's why that matters. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/06/29/more-than-26-million-people-have-changed-their-facebook-picture-to-a-rainbow-flag-heres-why-that-matters/ |access-date=11 May 2020 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 29, 2015 |language=en}}</ref>