What started off as a website to create an avatar soon turned into a multimillion dollar company and app. The popular app Bitmoji started off in 2007 as Bitstrips. Users are able to create a miniature version of themselves to share with friends through texting and other apps. In 2016, Snap Inc. acquired Bitstrips for $100 million.

Although the name has changed, the concept has stayed the same for the most part. Unfortunately, users are no longer able to make comics without restrictions or chat on the chat bar with friends. The Bitstrips For Schools website has also been disabled after selling to Snap Inc. This sight was used by teachers and students as an alternative to the basic hand-drawn comic strips that many students have done in the past.

With the Bitmoji app, one is able to create their avatar to accurately represent them and their appearance for the day. Senior Casey Bala uses her Bitmoji to represent who he is as a person through the different stickers.

“I use my Bitmoji daily to express my emotions to others or even to make the conversation more exciting,” Bala said. “It mixes with my sarcastic personality.”

Although this avatar is a great way to express who one is, the rise of the app came out of nowhere. Of course, some people used it here and there, but it was not until the Snap acquisition that it became a hit.

“I’m not really sure how it got popular,” junior Drew Echterling said. “I think that somebody who is big on social media started using it a lot and it just kinda took off.”

If a somebody is asked why they have a Bitmoji, most do not really know the answer to that. But, they do know that they love using it, except for senior John Brennan.

“I hate Bitmoji,” Brennan said. “But I have one to fit in.”

Whether getting and using a Bitmoji is at the top of somebody’s to do list or they can go without it, this personal avatar is here to stay.