I have found that avatars and ícones are very important on fanpop, they can be simply a fotografia or picture that you like or an ícone that really represents you as an individual and even how you see or would like to see yourself, ícones also portray how other people see you as well and they are a great way of either remaining mysterious, showing yourself or expressing the way you feel.
Pictures make the topic, adding them to your profile, banners, spot icons, as well as your picks, artigos and the image section of spots. I've added pictures and ícones to just about everything I contribute to on fanpop (ever since I worked out how to, lol) pictures really add an edge to anything and it makes fanpop the colorful place we all love.