When did we start saying ”profile picture” instead of ”avatar” (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 year ago by BelieveRevolt@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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[-] newmou@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago

I think it was originally that, then default, then avatar, then back to that

[-] Mardoniush@hexbear.net 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Avatar dates to early graphical bulletin boards and MUDs in the 80s. Originally it was used as a synonym for "Player Character" (after Moorcock and his Avatars of the Eternal Champion) and spread from there. PFP is a post-facebook thing.

[-] BelieveRevolt@hexbear.net 7 points 1 year ago

I wonder if the Ultima series had anything do with that, since the player character was called the Avatar. NATOpedia seems to support that, claiming that Ultima IV popularized the use of the term avatar in this context.