Avatars

Overview
An avatar is generally a type of image that represents oneself in a virtual world. Avatars can range from simple drawings, like Mii characters on the Nintendo Wii, to three-dimensional representations of characters like in the computer game World of Warcraft [1]. Avatars can be used on dating and gaming sites, as well as a range of other pages on the web.

Uses
Social Networks: Avatars are often used in social networking sites to represent oneself. According to Bailenson and Blascovich (2011), avatars will play a bigger role in communications in the future. Avatars are already being used by those working for IBM during online meetings. With the increase in use of social networking sites and dating sites, avatars are becoming the norm.

Video Games: Avatars are currently being using in video games like the Xbox Kinect, Nintendo's Wii, and Sony's Playstation Move. These devices transform the physical action of the user into virtual body movements by their avatar [3]. Avatars are also used in games with virtual realities, like World of Warcraft.

Representation of Self: "Avatar customization can make digital gaming experiences more pleasant, and people actually spend considerable amount of time modifying their avatars to represent the characteristics essential to their identities when interacting with others online." [5]

Representation of Self in Avatars
Virtual worlds give users opportunities that may not otherwise be possible. Users create different self-representation in virtual environments like video games and social networking sites. According to  (2009), avatars have different strategies on self-representation depending on the virtual environment they are in. They found avatars on blogging sites were developed to represent their actual self in terms of physical appearance, lifestyle and preferences. On the other hand, avatars on dating and gaming sites enhanced certain aspects of their actual identity through their avatar. In gaming, avatars were made to look more intellectual while on dating sites avatars were made to look more attractive (pg. 511). [2]