✨Bookmarked✨ discussion

Hey everyone! This suggestion was made by one of our members, Marcelo!

What do you think, is a profile better with your real picture or an avatar/cartoon? What do you prefer and why?
Do you prefer to reveal your identity or not?

Share your views with us!

According to me, a profile is better with a real picture. I have no qualms over revealing my identity. I don't understand why many people are so secretive about their identity. I mean are they going to be kidnapped or something else along that line?

It's basically impossible and just a dream that I have but I really want to be a YouTuber or book reviewer full time so I have real photos of myself as profile photos because I think it would be better for my dream careers. I'm perfectly okay with avatar photos but I don't use them personally because of my unrealistic dreams for my future

I'm from the generation that loves avatars! I think it's a fun way to show your fandom love and so on. I've never been big on putting photos of myself out there. I'm also not a selfie taker. That's just me.

I've wanted to try booktubign again, but I think I'm more of a blogger.

I personally, am not comfortable sharing my real photos online. I’m also not 18 yet, and my parents don’t want me to post real pictures of me either and I agree with that.

I made my own profile pic on canva, and it looks a bit like me. :)

For the longest time I didnt want to post pictures of myself because idk, I didn't feel comfortable with it. Then I did and idk. I'd rather use something else for my profile picture because a) I can't take selfies, and b) I don't like pictures of myself tO be very honest XD

I prefer not to use a real picture of me because I'd like to stay anonymous, and plus, there's so many creative things I can do for my profile pic, like being able to show people my dog.

I have no problem with using my own photo as my profile pic. But I do get why many would choose to use a avatar. And as Shera rightly pointed out it's an awesome way to show your love for a fandom. I used to do that few years back when I felt so passionately towards a particular fandom( I was a big twilight fan back then). Now that I love so many multiple fandoms + I am not so creative at art or making avatars, I stick with my real picture.

Austin wrote: "According to me, a profile is better with a real picture. I have no qualms over revealing my identity. I don't understand why many people are so secretive about their identity. I mean are they goin..."

I do have to reply to that line though. I have been stalked. And when you find out your stalker has your photo . . . yeah.

I've also been harassed by an author who did not care for my review.

So yes privacy is important and I think especially so for women.

That's really disheartening to hear Shera. It's sad that people have to go through such things. Especially women as you pointed out. I hope none of us ever has to face such situations in future.

Arundhati wrote: "That's really disheartening to hear Shera. It's sad that people have to go through such things. Especially women as you pointed out. I hope none of us ever has to face such situations in future."

Yeah. And it wasn't my private facebook account he got the pictures. He actually tracked me down on MyAnimeList and Goodreads. And I wasn't that big on uploading images of myself then anyway.

Yeah. Luckily the author thing wasn't bad. Though I have quite a few GRs friends who totally quit reviewing because it got so bad. Luckily things are nicer and I haven't heard of that happening in a long while.

I prefer avatars to real photos! I don't really feel comfortable sharing my real photos online, I would like some privacy. And like Shera said, people can do creepy things with your photos.

Also like Bhavya mentioned, I am under 18 as well, so I don't think I'm quite ready to post pictures of myself online.

And making an avatar is a way to get creative and do interesting things. :)

I'm pretty comfortable sharing my photos online.. i do get why people prefer not to show their pics online. and i think it's pretty much your choice. as shawna.. said... even i want a booktube channel and reviewing on Instagram and stuff... so yeahh it helps there. i would also like to say that your dream @shawna isn't unrealistic... it's just up to u to make it more real. :)

OK guys, I take back my words and some of y'all are not even 18 years yet. Peace.

I prefer real photos because I want people to know what I look like and see me I also love to change my pictures a lot. Like if I take a picture of myself I’m really proud of I want people to see it. But yeah I’ve gotten some weird messages on here from boys or old men. I also get super weird DMs on Instagram of boys asking if I wanna do stuff with them 😣 but I totally understand people that don’t feel comfortable putting themselves online.

I am comfortable in sharing my photos, but I like avatars too. My profile picture is in fact half and half (I tried to recreate my sport team logo and it was fun!), and my opinion on this matter is basically "do what makes you feel happy and safe".
I'm very sorry to hear people has been harassed and/or has issues with their appearance. I don't want to feed you the same trite quotes "love yourself the way you are" etc because I've been there and I don't believe they work, but I do hope with all my heart you'll come to find small pieces you can not hate, then accept, then maybe even like, and finally love. In my experience, it was a process, and it still is.
That said, I'm not big on selfies either and I prefer to share what I do than what I look like.

@Fabitha You're avatar looks great!

Not comfortable with sharing my real picture or real name. So opted for a nom de plume and a scenery picture = )

@Shera OMG I didn't read your reply til now! Thank you!!

No worries. I think GR is still glitchy about updating people.

Yep, I noticed too!

My profile is bit of like a art

An avatar. Yes, real picture is nice. But with avatar, you can portray whatever u want about yourself. I personally think it’s a fun way of expressing yourself

Unknown wrote: "An avatar. Yes, real picture is nice. But with avatar, you can portray whatever u want about yourself. I personally think it’s a fun way of expressing yourself"
Agreed.