Bitmoji App Review

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What is Bitmoji?

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(A bit of background) 

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Bitmoji is a mobile app that lets people create personalized cartoon avatars of themselves. It’s owned by Snap Inc, which also owns Snapchat. 

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They were acquired by Snap Inc. in 2016. It became especially popular with teens and young adults because users could create cute, humorous versions of themselves to send in messages and use across social platforms.

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Most notably, you can sync your Bitmoji avatar to Snapchat so friends and followers will see your avatar when they view your profile, your snaps, your messages, and your location on Snap Maps (more about that later).

Even though Bitmoji is “just emojis,” it connects to other apps (like Snapchat) and can be part of social communication that kids engage in every day. 

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How Does Bitmoji Work?

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Bitmoji walks users through creating a digital avatar. You choose:

• Face shape
• Hair style and color
• Outfits
• Accessories
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Once created, the avatar becomes a library of stickers/emojis that reflect emotions, actions, and reactions (“LOL,” “Good morning,” “I’m bored”). It’s pretty easy. Most use it to reflect what they actually look like, while some might create a character that looks nothing like them. 

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Users can use Bitmoji:

• In texting apps
• In Snapchat (where Bitmojis can appear on Snap Map)
• In keyboards on phones
• In other chat/social platforms that support Bitmoji

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What Do Parents Need to Know About Bitmoji?

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(Both the positives and the risks)

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Bitmoji itself doesn’t have a social feed or public messaging, but it often links to other apps that do, especially Snapchat, as we’ve mentioned before. That connection is where most risks show up. 

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Here are other risks to consider:

• Linked Accounts: Many kids use Bitmoji with Snapchat, which includes messaging and location sharing.
• Oversharing Identity: An avatar can feel safe, but it can still represent your child’s physical appearance in online spaces.
• Social Pressure: Teens may feel judged by how their Bitmoji looks or is used.
• In-App Purchases: Custom outfits or styles can tempt spending.

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How to Make Bitmoji Safer:

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Regardless of the app, three actions mitigate the risks we’ve shared. We teach these actions in our parent presentations:

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1. Require approval for all app downloads. 
2. Follow the 7-Day Rule
3. Enable in-app controls and settings 

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We explain each of them briefly below. If you’ve already set up approvals for downloads and have used the app, please skip to the In-App Controls & Settings.

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Require Approval for App Downloads

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You can control app stores by requiring permission for apps to be downloaded. This is ensures your child doesn’t have access to an app without your knowledge. Here are the steps (for Apple and Android users):

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For Apple Devices:

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To require permission to download an app, you’ll need to set up Screen Time and Family Sharing (Apple’s Parental Controls). We explain this process step-by-step in our Complete iOS Guide (click here).  

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Once Screen Time and Family Sharing are established, here’s how to require permission to download apps on an Apple device:

1. Go to your Settings app.
2. Select your Family.
3. Select the person you want to apply this setting to.
4. Scroll down to “Ask to Buy” and enable.

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For Android Devices:

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You’ll have to use Family Link (Android’s parental controls) to ensure you retain control over what apps are downloaded. We explain this process step-by-step in our Android Guide (click here). 

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Once Family Link is established, here’s how to require permission to download apps on an Android device:

1. Go to the Family Link App
2. Select the person you want to apply this setting to.
3. Select “Google Play Store”
4. Select “Purchases & download approval” and set it to “All Content.”

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Follow the 7-Day Rule

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This is our tried-and-true method of determining whether a specific app is safe for your specific child. 

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Before you let your child use it, download the app and use it for 7 days. 

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Create an account with your child’s age and gender and use it for 7 days. Play through a few levels, review the ads, see if anyone can chat with you, and poke around like a curious child.

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After a week, ask yourself, “Do I want my child to experience what I did?”  Even if you decide to allow them to download the app, now you have a basis for curious conversations about the app when you check in.

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Enable In-App Controls & Settings

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This is often the most daunting aspect of allowing a new app, and many apps don’t allow their controls and settings to be locked in. If, after reading our instructions, you still feel unsure, remember The Table, our Digital Coaching Community. Abby is there to help. 

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Here are 5 settings to make Bitmoji safer for your child:

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1. Create Accounts Together

• Make sure you know which email or phone number is used and have access for safety and password recovery.

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2. Limit Connectivity

• If Bitmoji asks to connect to another app, consider if that is needed. Less is often best.

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3. Turn Off Location Features (For Snapchat Only)

• On Snapchat: Settings > See My Location > Ghost Mode (this turns off sharing your child’s location on Snapchat.)

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4. Review Keyboard Permissions

• Bitmoji can be used as a keyboard in messaging apps to send emojis of their avatar in other apps.

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5. Discuss Sharing Boundaries

• Agree on rules about sending Bitmoji in group chats, with friends, on other apps, or in public posts.

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Bottom Line: Is Bitmoji Safe for Kids?

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Bitmoji by itself is generally low risk. The avatar builder and stickers are often harmless. More risks often lie where Bitmoji is being used, such as within messaging apps, group chats, or other social apps.

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For example, since Bitmoji is integrated with Snapchat, we want to remind parents that Snapchat is not safe for kids. To learn more, read our complete Snapchat App Review.

What if I have more questions? How can I stay up to date?

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Two actions you can take!

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1. Subscribe to our tech trends newsletter, the PYE Download. About every 3 weeks, we’ll share what’s new, what the PYE team is up to, and a message from Chris.
2. Ask your questions in our private parent community called The Table! It’s not another Facebook group. No ads, no algorithms, no asterisks. Just honest, critical conversations and deep learning! For parents who want to “go slow” together. Become a member today!

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