If your Facebook feed has in recent months filled up with colorful cartoons starring animated versions of friends, you're witnessing the proliferation of "Bitstrips."
"Bitstrips" debuted about a year ago as a create-a-strip mobile app, which is available for free on Android or Apple iOS devices. But the simple one-panel cartoons have become popular on the social network with an app that allows you to create comics there as well. Users first build an avatar, choosing a hairstyle, clothing color, skin complexion and other options. Then that avatar can be inserted into pre-built comic strips that convey emotions or situations. Strips including other avatars from social media friends can also be built. They're meant to be shared; the completed strips can be posted as status updates, shared on Twitter or Tumblr or sent via email or text message.
Not everyone is a fan. Some Facebook users say they don’t find the strips funny and, as with anything newly popular, are complaining about seeing them in their news feed.
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