Bitmoji is an app that allows users to create personalized avatars or characters of themselves. These avatars can then be used in various apps and messaging platforms to represent the user. One common feature of Bitmoji is the “peeking” animation, where the avatar will partially peek in from the side of the screen.
When your Bitmoji is peeking, it typically means one of three things:
- You’ve opened the Snapchat camera.
- You are viewing someone’s Snapchat story.
- Someone has opened a chat with you on Snapchat.
Your Bitmoji peeks when you open the Snapchat camera
The main reason your Bitmoji will peek is when you open the Snapchat camera. Snapchat automatically places your personal Bitmoji avatar in the lower-left corner of the camera screen.
When you first open the camera, your Bitmoji will do a quick peeking animation to call attention to itself. This is Snapchat’s playful way of surfacing your avatar and personalizing the camera experience.
Your Bitmoji will continue to subtly peek, move, or animate in the corner while you use the Snapchat camera. But the initial peek when you first open the camera is the most obvious.
Why does your Bitmoji peek on camera open?
There are a few reasons why Snapchat makes your Bitmoji peek when you open the camera:
- Drawing attention to your personalized avatar.
- Adding visual interest and liveliness.
- Reminding you that you can use your Bitmoji in Snaps.
- Cueing you to interact with your Bitmoji.
Overall, the peeking animation is meant to bring your Bitmoji to life and encourage you to engage with it as part of the Snapchat camera experience.
Your Bitmoji will peek when viewing Snapchat Stories
In addition to the Snapchat camera, your Bitmoji will also peek out when you’re viewing someone’s Snapchat Story.
Each Snapchat Story page features a small profile icon of the person’s Bitmoji avatar in the top-left corner. As you’re viewing their Story, your own Bitmoji will peek in from the bottom-left corner.
Why does it peek on Stories?
Again, this peeking animation serves a couple purposes:
- Reminds you that you have a personalized avatar.
- Livelens up the Story viewing experience.
- Subtly associates your Bitmoji with those you view Stories from.
Snapchat wants to reinforce that connection between you, your friends, and your respective Bitmojis. The peeking avatar helps strengthen that association in a fun way.
Your Bitmoji peeks when receiving Chats
The last main scenario when your Bitmoji will peek is when you receive a new Snapchat Chat message.
If someone sends you a Chat, your Bitmoji will briefly slide in and peek from the bottom of the Chat screen. This is especially prominent if you’re already on the Chat tab.
Why it peeks for new Chats
As with other instances, the peeking Bitmoji for new Chats:
- Personalizes the messaging experience.
- Catches your eye with a cute animation.
- Reminds you that you have a Bitmoji to use in Chats.
- Associates your Bitmoji avatar with your messaging interactions.
Other times your Bitmoji may peek
While the main times your Bitmoji peeks are on camera open, viewing Stories, and new Chats, there are a few other contexts where you may see the peeking animation:
- Opening a received image or video Snap.
- Saving something to Memories.
- Accessing your Profile or Bitmoji Customization screens.
- Browsing Snapchat Discover content.
Generally, anytime you engage with something personal on Snapchat, your Bitmoji is likely to peek or animate as a visual reminder that it’s linked to your account.
How to make your Bitmoji peek
If you want to manually make your Bitmoji peek or animate, there are a couple of ways:
- Tap and hold on your Bitmoji in the camera screen – it will animate.
- Tap your Bitmoji on a Chat screen – it will animate.
- Send a Bitmoji Sticker in a Chat – your avatar will peek as it’s sent.
You can also access a menu of Bitmoji animations and interactions by tapping the “…” icon next to your Bitmoji on most screens.
Conclusion
To summarize, your Bitmoji peeking on Snapchat typically means:
- You’ve opened the camera to take a Snap.
- You’re viewing someone’s Story.
- You’ve received a new Chat message.
In all cases, the friendly peek is meant to personalize your experience, associate Bitmoji with your Snapchat interactions, and encourage you to engage with your avatar. It’s one of the many fun ways Snapchat incorporates your Bitmoji into the app.
Context | Why Your Bitmoji Peeks |
---|---|
Opening the camera | Draw attention to your avatar, add visual interest, remind you can use Bitmoji in Snaps |
Viewing Stories | Personalize experience, associate your Bitmoji with friends |
New Chat message | Catch your eye, remind you to use Bitmoji in Chats |
So next time your Bitmoji peeks out on Snapchat, take it as a friendly hello from your personalized avatar sidekick!