Given that Snapchat's Bitmoji is arguably the most popular form of 3D character avatars available today, this could give it an even more valuable opportunity at a furthered means of keeping in touch with the next phase of digital connection, if things go as Meta and many others project.

It's why this is big news. Today, Snap announced an update to its Bitmoji characters, which will make its 3D models even more beautiful and could pave the way for greater use of these depictions in new contexts.
As described by Snap:

The new style of the avatar improves characteristics like hair texture and face shading, and body proportions. The avatar can now sport a bolder smile, a more astonished face when they are surprised, and express even the most subtle and nuanced emotions. We're also constantly improving how you interact with your Bitmoji, including enhanced editing that lets you modify your avatar in 3D, using zoom and rotating features to get a closer look.

The new avatars should basically interact in 3D environments, the next level of digital connection, and be utilized as personal proxies inside new emerging online environments.

As in, say, the metaverse.

A substantial portion of Meta's new metaverse push features 3D avatars: digital characters that, in Meta's vision, people will eventually use as key interactive mediums within these new digital realms.

This is because the way children are communicating online already-behind avatars in game worlds like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft stems from the fact that this next generation are already accustomed to having themselves embodied in this fashion, and that points towards new opportunities for these younger cohorts to continue interacting in new contexts via digital characters.

That is why Meta continues to promote the use of 3D avatars as a way of nudging users into metaverse experiences. Meta keeps piling up ways of using your avatar in its current app experiences, the idea being that as people become accustomed to communicating in this way, that will enhance their alignment to these depictions, which will then ease the transition into metaverse connection.

It will also, of course, bring new commercial opportunities. The company said just this week it has launched a new avatar clothing line created by fashion house Valentino, in addition to its digital clothing collections already available from adidas, Puma, and many more.

If it becomes a thing, as Meta hopefully hopes, then these digital depictions will be how we all meet up and interact in future, and in this context, it makes sense for Snap to also improve its Bitmoji characters, as a pathway for it to remain connected to this next stage.