Snapchat avatars finally get a wheelchair

Inclusiveness is a hot topic in the world of social media, and user representation is a key concern for the internet’s favorite social media platforms. Snapchat, for example, has driven inclusivity by implementing wheelchair animations for its Bitmoji avatars.

“Bitmoji’s mission has always been to create avatars that reflect and represent the diversity of our community. And while we recognize that we have more work to do, today we hope to be one step closer to achieving our larger goal of making inclusion a critical part of our Bitmoji avatar platform, ”the Snapchat team explains in a blog post.

Available in the stickers tab

The use of these avatars, created to reflect the traits of the user and now available with a wheelchair, was made possible for the first time as of February 25 after a test launch. In fact, users looking to customize their Bitmoji to reflect their physical appearance now have the option of adding a manual wheelchair. Just type “wheelchair” in the search bar through the Bitmoji app or on Snapchat by selecting the stickers tab.

A collaborative effort

In the past, Snapchat has been criticized for its lack of accessibility options for users with disabilities, especially those with visual impairments. With these new avatars, the platform seems to want to make amends and at the same time work hand in hand with the community: “Over the past year, we have been in contact with members of our community regarding requests to see their Bitmoji represented in a Wheelchair. So to create this first round of designs, we collected your feedback and worked closely with our disability rights advisor; they both collectively guided us in their design, specifically around the details of the manual wheelchair: the arm guard, the footrest, the seat fabric and how the spokes are positioned, ”explains Snapchat.

Start a conversation with Gen Z

It is a first step for the platform, which has announced plans to continue with these new additions to better represent its users with disabilities: “We want to recognize that there is much more to inclusion, and we understand that disability comes in many ways, both visible as invisible. ” The social network has asked its members to share their comments to help improve or develop a new Bitmoji, a way to boost user engagement, particularly with Gen Z, known for placing more importance on representation issues on networks. social. – AFP Relaxnews

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