https://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cameos-1-650x366.jpg
Photo Credit: Josh Constine / TechCrunch

Turn Your Face Into a GIF With Snapchat Cameos

by

Snapchat is reportedly testing a feature that essentially lets users insert themselves into GIFs.

The social network’s video alternative to Bitmoji, Snapchat Cameos uses selfies to replace other people’s faces in animations.

Following a trial run in France, Snap today announced the Dec. 18 global launch of Cameos on iOS and Android, as reported by TechCrunch.

The news site’s Josh Constine got his hands on the forthcoming function, which turned his smiling face into a personalized meme.

“Snapchat has made 150 short looping video clips with sound that you can choose from with new ones coming each week,” he wrote in a blog post. “They can show you flaunting your cash, dancing like crazy, falling asleep, and tons more.”

Simply take a selfie to teach the app what you look like (try not to smile); Snap automatically applies your photo to actors’ heads in various GIFs.

Whether starring in your own looping animation or sharing the spotlight with friends (activate two-person Cameos), you can search for specific words and phrases or browse categories to find the right clip for the moment.

Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp have copied Snap’s Stories to great success.

But, as Constine pointed out, Snap may have taken its own Cameos inspiration from Chinese social platform Zao, which let users Deepfake their faces into videos.

In an effort to keep ahead of the chatting curve, Snapchat has begun monetizing messaging, and may even sell sponsored, branded Cameos clips to advertisers, TechCrunch said.

Snap did not immediately respond to Geek’s request for comment.

More on Geek.com: