I already use an avatar on Facebook instead of a real picture of me. Mostly because I didn't have a attractive, recent picture handy but partly because of vanity. I didn't want old friends and acquaintances to be checking out how old or fat I am these days.
For this assignment I made my avatar look, more or less, like me and have my interests, but I can see where you could get carried away with the all the choices and create yourself as a fantasy person. That would be a lot of fun if everyone you are networking with knows that it's all a fantasy.
What about applications for libraries? Now that I know about Meez, I will encourage people, especially young people, to use an avatar to maintain their privacy when they communicate with total strangers. I haven't noted patrons using avatars, but I have noticed librarians using them on sites like "Tattooed Librarians". They can show and discuss their tattoos, while maintaining anonymity, and not embarassing their workplaces. It's great to be able to do that! Viva avatars!
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