The portrait , a centuries - old art form , is finding new life with the masses online . Some people hire artists to paint their Facebook profile pictures and Twitter icons . Free Web sites generate cartoon pictures of people for use in social media . `` In the physical world , there 's the actual self , so you 're not entirely dependent on a portrait . '' Google says portraits are necessary stand - ins for people online .
The portrait , a centuries - old art form , is finding new life with the masses online . Some people hire artists to paint their Facebook profile pictures and Twitter icons . Free Web sites generate cartoon pictures of people for use in social media . Google says portraits are necessary stand - ins for people online .