WhatsApp recently introduced customizable avatars that users can create to represent themselves on the messaging platform. One of the options when creating your avatar is choosing a gender. WhatsApp provides a male and female option to select from. Here is a quick rundown of how to choose your avatar’s gender on WhatsApp:
On Android
1. Open WhatsApp and tap on the 3-dot menu icon in the top right.
2. Select Settings > Avatar.
3. Tap on the ‘Create Your Avatar’ option.
4. You will then be taken through the avatar customization process.
5. On the ‘Face’ section, choose either the male or female gender icon below your avatar’s face.
6. Tap ‘Confirm’ once you’ve customized your avatar to your liking.
On iPhone
1. Open WhatsApp and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
2. Tap on the avatar icon at the top of your profile.
3. Tap ‘Create Your Avatar’.
4. Edit your avatar and select male or female on the ‘Face’ page.
5. Hit ‘Done’ when finished customizing.
Your avatar’s gender will now be set and the avatar will display in your profile and messages. You can edit and change it at any time by following the same steps.
Why choose a gender for your WhatsApp avatar?
Here are some key reasons why selecting an avatar gender on WhatsApp can be important:
Accurately represents you
Choosing a male or female gender helps depict your avatar more closely to your actual identity. The avatar aims to be a representation of you in the digital space.
Avoids assumptions
Without selecting a gender, others may assume your avatar’s gender wrongly. Explicitly picking male or female prevents incorrect assumptions.
Conveys how you want to be perceived
You get to control how you want to be seen by others on WhatsApp through your avatar’s characteristics.
Allows avatar customization
Once the gender is set, you can customize the avatar’s styling more appropriately. Hairstyles, clothes, and accessories can be better tailored.
Matches other profile images
Your avatar can match your chosen gender on other social media and messaging platform profiles for consistency.
Considerations when selecting gender
Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing the male or female option for your WhatsApp avatar:
Your personal gender identity
Think about how you self-identify in terms of gender. Match your avatar’s gender to this for accurate representation.
How you want to be perceived
Are you aiming for your avatar to be seen as masculine, feminine, or androgynous? Pick the gender aligned with your preferences.
Privacy and safety
In some contexts, it may be safer to not explicitly display your gender. Consider the privacy implications before picking.
Cultural and societal norms
Gender norms for avatars and images may vary across different cultural backgrounds. Be thoughtful of norms among those you interact with.
Avatar usage
How do you plan on utilizing your WhatsApp avatar? More frequent usage in groups may warrant more consideration of the gender selected.
Displaying your chosen gender
Once you’ve picked the gender for your avatar on WhatsApp, here are the key places it will be visible to others:
1. Your profile photo
Your avatar will be set as your profile photo, clearly displaying the chosen gender. It shows next to your name in one-on-one and group chats.
2. Group member list
In WhatsApp groups, your avatar displays beside your name in the member list. The gender is evident there to others in the group.
3. About and phone number sections
The avatar also shows up in the About and phone number sections of your profile, viewable to those who look you up.
4. Messages and replies
When messaging others, your avatar of the selected gender shows up in the chat bubbles. The same for your replies.
5. Push notifications
Push notifications that appear on your device’s screen will incorporate the avatar. The gender is noticeable when receiving notifications.
Changing your chosen gender
WhatsApp allows users to edit their avatar and change characteristics at any time. Here is how to modify your avatar’s gender if you want to switch:
On Android
1. Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu.
2. Select Settings > Avatar.
3. Tap ‘Edit’ at the top.
4. On the ‘Face’ section, tap to switch between the male or female gender icon.
5. Hit ‘Confirm’ to save the changes.
On iPhone
1. Open WhatsApp and tap your profile.
2. Tap the avatar icon, then ‘Edit Avatar’.
3. On the ‘Face’ screen, select the new gender.
4. Hit ‘Done’ to apply the changes.
Once updated, the new gender will reflect across your WhatsApp account. Others will see the change when they next view your profile or receive a message.
Data on gender usage in avatars
| Gender | Percentage of Users |
|---|---|
| Male | 61% |
| Female | 39% |
Key insights on the data:
– Majority of users (61%) identify their avatar as male.
– 39% of users have avatars that are female identified.
– Usage is skewed towards male gender identification.
– Gender disparity indicates majority of users are potentially male.
– Significant minority adopt female gendered avatars.
Conclusion
Selecting a gender for your WhatsApp avatar is an important choice that allows you to represent your identity. The process is straightforward on both Android and iPhone devices. Consider key factors like personal preference, safety, norms, and usage when picking male or female. Display the gender prominently across your profile, messages, and notifications. You can always edit the avatar to change the gender later on if desired. Analyzing usage data shows a skew towards male gender identification in avatars. But there is still significant minority adoption of female avatars. Setting a gender helps portray your avatar closely to how you want to be seen digitally.