Bitmoji App Review

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As of June 30, 2026, the Bitmoji app has been completely dissolved and integrated all into Snapchat.

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To read more about what Bitmoji is, read our app review below, but know that these features are only available on Snapchat.

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What is Bitmoji?

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Bitmoji is a Snapchat feature 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. And in 2026, Bitmoji was shut down as individual app, and fully integrated into Snapchat.

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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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Bitmoji is completely integrated with Snapchat, which we don't recommend kids using.

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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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Please see our Snapchat app review to learn more about how to make that app, and its Bitmoji features, safer.

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Bottom Line: Is Bitmoji Safe for Kids?

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Bitmoji by itself is generally low risk. But since it's now integrated with Snapchat, it's simply not worth it. The avatar builder and stickers are often harmless, but Snapchat is full of risks and 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. If you have more questions: Order Chris's book (or audiobook)! Supported by science, built on deep experience, biblical truth, and proven by thousands of success stories, 5 Habits of the Tech-Ready Family will help readers raise wise kids in a wild digital world.
2. Stay up to date: Subscribe to our tech trends newsletter, the PYE Download. Monthly, we’ll share what families need to know, what the PYE team is up to, and a message from Chris.

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