It isn’t enough to have great new devices, apps, and games — you also have to know how to use them. Here at The Verge, we offer step-by-step how-tos for experienced and new users who are working with online, macOS, Windows, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android apps, services, phones, laptops, and other tools. From simple instructions on how to install and use new devices, to little-known strategies on how to take advantage of hidden features and the best methods for adding power or storage, we’ve got your technological back.

With the launch of Apple’s iOS 12 comes Memoji. It’s essentially the personified version of Animoji — you can design your Memoji to look like you and then use it to send silly videos or photos. Keep in mind that for now, you need to have an iPhone X running iOS 12 to use Memoji. Still, you’ll definitely want to play with it, and here’s how.

Find Memoji in the iMessage app drawer and design your mini me

You can only access Memoji through iMessage. I wish this wasn’t the case, but it’s what we got. You’ll have to tap on the Animoji icon (the little monkey). From there, you’ll want to scroll all the way to the left and tap on “new Memoji.” This will launch the Memoji maker. The process is relatively self-explanatory. You’ll be able to choose your skin tone, which ranges from the expected to more alien choices, like blue and pink. You can adjust your hairstyle, eye color, head shape, nose, and lips. You can get more personal by picking freckles, facial hair, earrings, headwear, and glasses. I will say as a human that wears glasses, the options aren’t great. But you should be able to pick something relatively similar to what you wear now, and if not, well, hopefully Apple will give you more to choose from in a future update.

Spam your friends with your Memoji

Now that you’ve made your Memoji, you can start using it to send messages. Back in the Animoji app in iMessage, you can swipe over to your Memoji and start making faces. It’ll mirror your gestures. Press the red record button once you’re ready to make some real content. You have 30 seconds to record whatever you want. You can review that footage and then send it directly in iMessage. You can still send these messages to your Android-using friends; it’ll just send as a video file. You can always save that file once you send it, so if you want to only post that video elsewhere, you should send it only to yourself and then save it.

Maybe 30 seconds isn’t long enough for you. If that’s the case, tap on the camera icon in iMessage. This will open the camera app, and from there, you can choose the camera mode you want to use. After you swipe over to video, you’ll notice a little star in the bottom left corner. Press it. This brings up a few different effect options, including Memoji. Tap on that monkey again, flip the camera to yourself, and swipe over to the Memoji you want to use. Exit out of that menu by tapping on the little “x” in the right-hand corner. Your Memoji will show up on your face (so long as you’ve flipped to your front camera) and you can start recording.

You can always layer more effects, like filters, text, and shapes. This is a lot to handle visually, but if it feels right to you, go for it. Once you’re done recording, you can press done and send that video in iMessage. You’ll have to send it to save it, which is annoying, but at least you’ll then be able to share it on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or wherever else you feel your Memoji should live.

How much Memoji is too much Memoji?

As of right now, go wild with Memoji. Spam your friends. Enjoy. I do think we’ll eventually get sick of these, but I crack myself up playing with my Memoji. I hope you do, too. You’ll look like a freak making faces to your phone and / or talking to it, but it’s fine. It’s 2018, and we can’t have shame.