Using a Facebook Avatar to protect your identity on Facebook

Using Facebook Avatar is an easy way to protect your identity on Facebook. Both parents and children should make use of this feature. It ensures your real-world physical image is not accessible to strangers from your account profile. You can use this to further limited the personal information available to others not connected to you on Facebook. It will also be a way to help your genuine friends locate you on the platform. It is important for people both young and old, to try to limit their digital footprint now more than ever due to the large variety of threats ranging from identity theft to fraud.

What is a Facebook Avatar?

Facebook Avatar is a way of enabling the creation of lookalike, or perhaps creating an alternative fun image of the account holder. There are a wide variety of different faces and hairstyles which you can customize however you like. You can use the Facebook Avatar as your profile picture and in other ways when engaging with others on the platform. Facebook Avatars can be shared across all platforms, mobile, tablet and P.C.

 How to set up Facebook Avatar

Here are the step-by-step instructions in setting Facebook Avatar up.

• Log into Facebook on your device and select the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Menu options
• Scroll down through the Menu and selectSee More
• Now select Avatars to begin creating your own

• Begin by selecting the Next option at the bottom of the screen
• Begin by selecting your skin tone and then selecting Next at the bottom of the screen
• In the next menu that opens, you can alter every physical attribute of the avatar to customize it by moving from left to right on the middle menu area of the screen
• When you have finished, select Done

• You will now be presented with your avatar. If you are not happy with it, you can return to the previous menu by selecting the Left Arrow on the top left hand side of the screen to alter the image or start all over again.
• If you are satisfied with the image select the Right Arrow at the top right of the screen
• You have the option to publish the avatar in a post announcing your own creation and to make the avatar your Facebook Profile Picture by selecting from the options available at the bottom of the screen. Select one of the options to load your new avatar

 How to make the Avatar your Profile Picture

• Log into Facebook on your device and select the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Menu options
• Scroll down through the Menu and selectSee More
• Select Avatars
• Once your avatar has loaded, click on Right Arrow at the top right of the screen
• Now select Make Profile Picture
• On the next screen, you will get to choose an avatar pose and a profile background. Select your option for both, then selectNext
• Facebook will prompt you to set your new avatar as a temporary profile picture for either one hour, one day, or one week.
• You can also set a custom date if you would prefer to use it for longer. Once you have made your decision, select Save
• Your new avatar will replace your current profile picture. In the Facebook profile section, the number of days you have left to use your avatar as a temporary profile picture will be displayed

How to use the Avatar in a Facebook Post

• Log into Facebook on your device and select the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Menu options
• Scroll down through the Menu and selectSee More
• Select Avatars
• Once your avatar has loaded on the top of the screen select the Share option
• Select the Create Post option
• Now select a pose for your avatar
• Select Share to News Feed
• Write what you want to share
• Then select Post

How to add a different background to your content when creating a post

• Create your post as normal
• On the bottom right of the screen select the box-shaped symbol
• Choose a background for your posts in Choose Background
• Write your content for the post, then select the Post button
• The post will be shared with the background you have selected

How to use the Avatar in Facebook Comments

The avatar can also be used as a sticker when commenting on Facebook posts.

• Go to the comment section of any post
• Click on the smiley button from which you add stickers.
• Click on the avatar icon underneath Write a comment
• Select an avatar.
• Post the comment by clicking on the arrow icon
• Selecting the Edit Avatar optionin the bottom right corner of the screen underneath Your Avatar, will take you to an avatar preview window. Here, you can make any edits you want to the sticker you have

How to use the Facebook Avatar as a sticker on Facebook Messenger

• Log into Facebook on your device and select the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Menu options
• Scroll down through the Menu and selectSee More
• Select Avatars
• Select the second option: All Stickers
• Choose an avatar sticker
• Click on Send in Messenger
• Select the friend you would like to forward the Avatar to, then select Send
• Once shared, you can reuse the sticker on Facebook Messenger
• You can also save it directly in your phone's gallery to share across other platforms, and the process is identical to sharing a normal image

How to Share Your Facebook Avatar on Instagram

• Log into Facebook on your device and select the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Menu options
• Scroll down through the Menu and selectSee More
• Select Avatars
• Click on the second option in the preview window
• Choose a sticker
• Click on More Options
• Select Instagram from the list of apps. The sticker will then be imported to Instagram
• Share your avatar sticker after writing a description. You can do this by clicking on the tick icon in the top right. You can also share your Facebook avatar on WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Twitter

Find out more about “How to protect your Personal Data” with our free tutorial

Don't forget to check out the Facebook Safety Centre for up to date safety information