How Zwinky Functions

Ever felt like trying out a different persona? Since we live with ourselves day in and day out, our personalities can occasionally feel a bit stale. As Jesse, the character portrayed by Ethan Hawke in the 1995 movie 'Before Sunrise,' puts it: "I have never been anywhere where I haven't been. … I've never been out bowling, if I wasn't there, you know, making some stupid joke."

So, how can we change this? Costumes, of course, are one solution, which is likely why so many people eagerly await Halloween — a chance to embody their favorite superhero for a day and indulge in a burst of creativity. But not everyone is open to dressing up year-round, as doing so often contradicts societal expectations.

Perhaps this explains the rise in popularity of social networking at the start of the 21st century. Many websites offering online communities let users create avatars, which are digital representations of themselves. Users are free to design their avatars to either resemble their true selves or to craft a completely different persona.

One such platform is Zwinky, which was launched in 2006 and is owned by InterActiveCorp (IAC). Zwinky enables users to design their own whimsical, oversized avatars with large heads and big eyes, which they can use in various ways.

A key point to note: Zwinky is available to individuals aged 13 and above. If you are under 13, you won't be able to create an account, even with parental approval. Zwinky profiles can be set to 'private' if you're 18 or older, but profiles of users under 18 are automatically set to private.

So, how exactly does Zwinky function? What are the possibilities for someone with a Zwinky avatar? And what exactly is Zwinktopia?

Exploring Zwinky

To begin using Zwinky, users must first download a small installation program onto their computers. This setup may be different from other social networking sites, where you simply create a username and password, along with some personal details like email addresses and phone numbers. With Zwinky, however, you need to install a Zwinky icon into your web browser, which you click on to open the program's interface.

Once the Zwinky program is installed and launched, it’s time to personalize your Zwinky avatar. Every user has access to a wardrobe where they can customize their avatar's look. By clicking the 'Open Wardrobe' button at the bottom of the screen, you can adjust traits like gender, skin tone, hairstyle, hair color, and more to create a look that suits you.

Zwinky avatars roam through their virtual world, with the main goal being interaction with other avatars, playing games, and buying digital goods. Moving your avatar around is simple — just point and click with the mouse. You can also click the 'View/Add Friends' button to connect with others, either by sending a friendship request or checking where your friends are within Zwinky's world. If a friend is online, clicking their avatar will take you straight to them, open their profile, or allow you to send a Znote.

If another Zwinky makes you feel uneasy or bothers you, you can choose to block them from communicating with you. By clicking on their avatar and selecting 'Block,' that Zwinky will no longer be able to chat with you or view your profile.

Zwinktopia

Initially, Zwinky.com was a platform where users could create and customize their own avatars. After selecting outfits, accessories, and physical traits for their avatar, users would embed the avatar into other social networking platforms like MySpace.

Earlier, we discussed how to move your Zwinky avatar around. But if you embed your Zwinky on a webpage, does that mean it's just stuck there with no place to go?

In 2007, InterActiveCorp (IAC), the owner and operator of Zwinky, introduced a virtual world for Zwinky enthusiasts, offering a space to explore and interact with other Zwinky avatars. This world is called Zwinktopia. Much like virtual worlds such as Second Life and Club Penguin, Zwinktopia lets you take your personalized Zwinky avatar into a dynamic, game-like environment to wander, chat, and play games. Many areas in Zwinktopia are modeled after real-life places, such as arcades, coffee shops, and dance halls. Here are some key locations users can explore in Zwinktopia:

To access these places, simply click on them from the main Zwinktopia map.

In some of these locations, you'll spend ZBucks, while in others, you’ll earn them. But how exactly do ZBucks and the Zwinky Zcard function?

Zwinky Zcard

Like most societies, Zwinktopia has its own form of currency — ZBucks. These virtual coins are used by Zwinky members to purchase a variety of goods and services within the virtual world of Zwinktopia.

Every new Zwinky user is given an initial 100 ZBucks, which can be loaded onto a Zcard account. The Zcard works similarly to a debit card in the real world, enabling users to purchase any available items in Zwinktopia, including special premium items only accessible through the Zcard.

How do Zwinkies rack up ZBucks? There are several ways. For instance, simply exploring different parts of Zwinktopia will earn you ZBucks. Each place you visit — whether it’s a building or a broader area — rewards you with one ZBuck, up to a maximum of 30 ZBucks per day. However, the real reward comes from playing games. Once you complete a game, you have the option to exchange your score for ZBucks. On average, a game will yield between 15 and 30 ZBucks, and Zwinkies can earn as many as 300 ZBucks per day through games.

Members can also earn 10 ZBucks for each friend they invite to join Zwinky — with a cap of 10 invites and 100 ZBucks per month. However, if someone they invite actually joins, they earn an additional 50 ZBucks per join, up to 10 joins and 500 ZBucks. For those who prefer a quicker route to ZBucks, they can always purchase them using a major credit card or PayPal account to add funds to their Zcard.

Zwinky users can use their ZBucks to buy a variety of items, starting with clothing available at the Zwinchester mall in Zwinktopia. But ZBucks don’t stop at clothing — you can also spend them on food and drinks at places like The Caf or Java Jolt. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even purchase and decorate your own dorm room at ZSU. These dorms don’t come cheap, though — they cost 1,250 ZBucks and are located in the ZSU Quad.

Benefits of Zwinky

Like many other social networking platforms, Zwinky allows users to make friends, chat, and socialize from their desktop or laptop computers. However, it goes a step further. The portability of Zwinktopia — the ability to import Zwinky avatars onto other websites — has added a new layer of flexibility and appeal. The addition of Zwinktopia has brought an entirely new virtual dimension to the service.

When comparing Zwinky to similar virtual worlds, it shares some traits with Club Penguin, the Disney-owned platform where users create and control penguin avatars. Club Penguin primarily targets a younger audience, typically children between 6 and 12 years old, whereas Zwinky users must be 13 or older. Despite these age differences, the core features of both platforms are quite similar. Both require users to create avatars and interact in imaginative virtual worlds. Club Penguin members explore a frozen island, while Zwinky users move through the diverse areas of Zwinktopia. Both platforms also emphasize gameplay, allowing users to earn unique currencies that can be exchanged for virtual items.

In a press release, Zwinky representatives highlighted the ability to create entirely new personas, experiment with fashion, or reinvent oneself to be 'hipper, trendier, or more glamorous.' They emphasized that users had the freedom to design avatars that didn’t resemble their real-life appearances. Critics, however, argue that services like Zwinky overly focus on consumerism, attempting to pull users in rather than teaching them valuable life lessons. Despite the debate, Zwinky boasted 16 million unique members by August 2008, and even expanded with Zwinky Cuties, a virtual world aimed at younger girls.