Snapchat introduced Bitmoji statuses in early 2019 as a new way for users to share what they are currently doing without having to post a Snap. Bitmoji statuses display your personalized Bitmoji avatar on your friends’ Snapchat maps, providing a cartoon visualization of your real-life status.
What are Bitmoji statuses?
A Bitmoji status is a customizable cartoon sticker that appears next to your Bitmoji avatar on your friends’ Snapchat maps. It allows you to quickly update your friends on what you’re currently up to without having to send a Snap or start a chat conversation.
When you set a Bitmoji status, your Bitmoji avatar is displayed doing whatever activity you customized it to reflect, such as sleeping, eating, working out, shopping, and more. Tapping on your friend’s Bitmoji will reveal their status text as well as a timestamp showing when it was last updated.
Types of Bitmoji statuses
There are many different Bitmoji stickers available to choose from when setting a status, including:
- Moods – Sleepy, happy, sad, angry, etc.
- Activities – Exercising, listening to music, watching TV, etc.
- Locations – At home, at the movies, at the beach, etc.
- Situations – Stuck in traffic, working late, birthday party, etc.
- Custom text – Create your own status update with text
Snapchat is continually expanding the Bitmoji status options with seasonal and timely stickers, such as “social distancing” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Users can browse through all the available stickers when setting a status to find one that best fits what they want to share.
How to set up Bitmoji statuses
To use Bitmoji statuses, you first need to have the Bitmoji app installed and have your customizable avatar linked to your Snapchat account. Here is how to set up and use Bitmoji statuses on Snapchat:
- Download the Bitmoji app and either create your own Bitmoji avatar or link an existing avatar to your Snapchat.
- In Snapchat, tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap the smiley face Bitmoji icon next to your profile name.
- Choose a Bitmoji sticker or enter custom text to set your status.
- Tap “Set Status” to make it go live on the Snap Map.
Your Bitmoji status will now be visible to friends on their Snap Maps for as long as you keep it active. You can change or remove your status at any time by going back into your Snapchat profile and tapping the Bitmoji icon.
How long do Bitmoji statuses last?
By default, a Bitmoji status will remain active for up to 8 hours after it is set. You can choose to keep a status indefinitely by selecting the “All Day” option when you first create the status. An “all day” status will stay on your friends’ Snap Maps until you manually change or remove it.
For statuses with a time limit, once 8 hours have passed, the status will expire and your Bitmoji will revert to just showing your location on the Snap Map. Statuses also reset each morning, so a status from the previous day will not carry over.
At any point, you can change or remove a Bitmoji status by opening your profile, tapping on your Bitmoji, and selecting a new status or the “clear status” option. Your status will update in real time for friends.
Who can see your Bitmoji status?
The visibility settings for Bitmoji statuses match your personal Snap Map settings. There are three options:
- My Friends – Your status is visible to friends you have added on Snapchat
- My Friends Except… – Your status is visible to friends excluding specific people you blocked
- Only These Friends… – You select individual friends who can view your status
To change who can see your Bitmoji status, go to your Snapchat profile, tap the settings gear icon, select “See My Location”, and choose your desired visibility option. Note that your Bitmoji will not appear on the Snap Map for friends who cannot view your status.
Ghost Mode
You can also put your Snapchat into “Ghost Mode”, which hides your Bitmoji status as well as your location from all friends. This can be enabled from the Snap Map section of your settings. Friends will see nothing but your username on their maps when Ghost Mode is turned on.
Snap Map vs. Bitmoji status
The Snapchat Snap Map shows your real-time location on a map, accessible from your friends’ Snapchat apps. This can be kept on all the time or only visible temporarily when you open Snapchat. Your customizable Bitmoji status provides additional context about what you’re up to without having to send a photo.
While the Snap Map focuses on where you physically are, your Bitmoji status conveys what you are doing at that location. For example, your Snap Map might show you are at the gym, while your Bitmoji status displays you working out on the treadmill. The two features complement each other to give friends a better picture of what’s going on in your life.
Sharing a Bitmoji status vs. a Snap
Posting a Bitmoji status has a different purpose than sending a typical Snap. A status provides a quick, public update visible to friends on the Snap Map without initiating a conversation. Snaps are private photos or videos sent directly to specific friends which expire after being viewed.
You can think of a Bitmoji status as a way to passively update your circle of Snapchat friends without bombarding them with a bunch of Snaps they have to open one-by-one. It allows them to see what you’re up to at a glance on the Map screen. You can then choose to send full Snaps to share more detailed highlights.
Benefits of Bitmoji statuses
Bitmoji statuses offer some unique benefits for Snapchat users and their friends:
- Easy passive sharing – Quickly update friends without sending individual Snaps.
- Visual element – Cute personalized Bitmojis bring your status to life.
- Context for friends – Help friends understand what you’re up to based on your status sticker.
- Self-expression – Show off your personality by choosing creative status stickers.
- Conversation starter – Friends can ask about your status when chatting.
Overall, Bitmoji stickers add a fun layer to the Snapchat experience. Friends get amusing insight into your daily activities and whereabouts without the pressure of opening and responding to private communication. Think of it like a modern version of away messages from the early instant messaging era!
Fun ways to use Bitmoji statuses
Need some ideas for putting Bitmoji statuses to work? Here are some creative ways to take advantage of this feature:
- Show off your vacation adventures with location-based stickers
- Break the ice with new Snapchat connections using funny statuses
- React to life events like birthdays or concerts with themed stickers
- Complain about funny frustrations like snoring partners or bad WiFi
- Share daily moods and activities to let friends know what’s up
- Have some wholesome fun by coordinating statuses with friends
- Spice up mundane tasks like chores and errands with silly stickers
- Promote causes and interests to find likeminded friends
The possibilities are endless for showcasing your personality! Change up your status whenever you feel like sharing something new.
Conclusion
Snapchat Bitmoji statuses provide a straightforward way to broadcast your latest activities, moods, and whereabouts to your circle of friends. They add a playful visual element to the Snap Map, bridging the gap between private Snaps and public location sharing. With tons of stickers to choose from, you can get really creative in customizing your cartoon avatar!
So next time you’re out and about, try setting a relevant Bitmoji sticker status to clue your Snapchat buddies in on the action. TheBitmoji status feature streamlines passive sharing on Snapchat in a fun and quintessentially Snapchat way.