What is the proper term for the personal (profile) icons that appear on twitter and other microblogging sites?

[Saki]

What is the proper term for the personal (profile) icon which appear on twitter and other microblogging websites?
I am an English teacher in Japan, and one students wanted to know this. In Japan, apparently, they are simply called logos, is it the same in English?

Thanks for your help.

[chris s]

I believe here we call them avatars.

[Yesh]

"Avatars"

An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself or alter ego whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, or a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities. It can also refer to a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs. It is an object representing the user. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.

It is originated from "Sanskrit".

[Khushbaht A]

Yep they are called AVATAR - like the movie.

[narrowballoon631]

It's actually called as 'Avatar' ... but it depends on what people call to use it. Like they could call their avatar either 'Picture', 'Icon', 'Profile Picture', or 'Twitter Picture'. It doesn't really matter on what you call it unless and until it's understandable.