3 ms·Forum software has been using the term "avatar" this way for at least the past decade.by mintplant 13y agoForum software has been using the term "avatar" this way for at least the past decade.skybrian 13y agoSure, but that doesn't mean it's widely known enough to use in marketing. I associate it with a 3D player model like in Second Life, not 2D photos in large social networks since they mostly don't use the term.mintplant 13y agoGravatar has been able to pull it off.