As part of an upcoming General Data Protection Regulation that was recently passed by the European Union, we have added a way for our players to easily delete their Webkinz accounts. This was added to ensure the privacy of our players and to continue our commitment to provide a safe and secure place to play online. Note that once an account has been deleted, it will be permanent deleted and players will not have the option to recover any items, pets or currency associated to their account.
To delete your Webkinz account please complete the following steps:
- Log into your Webkinz account at Webkinz.com or from the Webkinz mobile app.
- Access the Options menu in the top right of the interface, or from the THINGS TO DO menu on the mobile app
- Click on the Delete Account option.
- You will be prompted to re-enter your password to confirm your decision
- You will be given one last chance to cancel or confirm your decision
- Once confirmed, you will be logged out and your account will be deleted.
Again, this decision is permanent and cannot be reversed once completed.
Thanks.
-The Webkinz Team
I know that I’ve been posting all morning–I really don’t feel safe with this update. But here is an idea, which I don’t know whether or not is valid according to the new legal stuff, but it would make me very happy if you would hear me out. What if you could create a security lock for the account deletion feature through the Parents Area. It would be optional, but you could set it up through your account so that no one could delete your Webkinz account without going through the Parents Area first and answering security questions or receiving a confirmation e-mail or something?
That sounds brilliant, Pinkiecupcake! That way, if someone actually did hack your account, they couldn’t just delete it within a few seconds. But I am glad that they included something where you had to put your password in again instead of just ‘Are you sure?’ followed by yes or no. So no little kid or something could accidentally delete their parent’s account.
It is true if it is so easy to eliminate the account the hackers would use it to their power. It would be better if you have to send an email to ganzworld in order to delete the account.
not all accounts have emails attached
I agree!
Pinkiecupcake I LOVE this idea! It would be great if they could do something like that! Great thinking!
Er… I hate to say it, but I do agree with a lot of the comments on here. I get that Ganz had to change this to fit the E.U. regulations (though I find it a little odd that a European requirement affects all accounts, even those of us who live in the U.S), but with all the cyber theft that goes on these days, how do you know that a hacker won’t go into someone else’s account and delete it? (I don’t know how anyone would get joy out of hacking into people’s WW, but it happens. Someone did it to my sibling’s account several times!) There should at least be recovery period, or something! Or instead of just typing in your password, perhaps it could require you to type in one of your used pet codes, as well, for additional security. I don’t feel very safe with these new standards
Me neither. I don’t know if secret codes would work, since free accounts wouldn’t have any, but I feel like there should be a recovery period so that in the event of problems of any kind, there could be some way to save your account! This really scares me!
because webkinz as a service is worldwide and must abide by the laws in whatever countries necessary to continue running. and also, the site is not that insecure, and you’d have to be extremely gullible to let someone have access to your account who’s unauthorised anyway.
I agree with you, Taffy! I mean, no one has ever hacked my account before, (I’m sorry to hear someone did that to your sibling’s account, though!), but it does happen…it just makes me a little worried knowing that all it takes to delete my account now is my password and a few clicks of a button. I mean, I’ve had my account for over 10 years, and it means so much to me…even though I doubt it’ll happen, I just hate to think of my account being deleted by someone…I definitely agree that it’d be better if there was a recovery period, or if there was something else required to enter in before you could delete it, (like an old pet code, like you said…I don’t see how that would be any harder for them to add, instead of the password, but it’d definitely make me feel more secure, you know?)
I love how on mobile you can search for a pet in my pets! The only problem is, I click on the floating coins and nothing happens. Doesn’t show up in dock. Is there any way someone could add the ability to sell back items to the wshop? That would be great!
im scared for this to because of hackers like everyone else said and i share my account with my little sister so now ill have to watch her on there because of this update ughhhhh
This sounds awful and scary. Who would ever want to delete a Webkinz account with pets on it? I know nothing about cyber world, but it seems awfully easy for a child to do this even accidentally. I guess since it is a “mandatory legal requirement” nothing can done about it, but it is not a happy thought to live with.
This is something that not only a hacker could do but a child could do this by mistake or without parental consent. How is this keeping data safe? Please consider adding questions to make sure the person owns the account and add a period of a few days at least to undo this.
Security questions are a great idea! Just any kind of security feature to keep our Webkinz safe from unintentional harm!
because if you don’t want your information in their servers you could delete the account? tell me how it’s not, it’s not like the site is insanely insecure now due to this update.
I don’t know what the legal requirements are, but maybe you could add a 48 hour account recovery possibility in the event of a hacker? This really scares me.
The option to delete an account has been available in the Parent’s Area for several years now. This updated method, making it more visible in the game, is a new mandatory legal requirement as part of the “General Data Protection Regulation” that takes effect this month. Because of other online laws, we also cannot collect an email in association to a child’s online account, so we do not have the option to confirm an account deletion via email. Please note that account “hacking” only occurs when someone shares their password, or uses a password that is easily guessed.
Does the “European Union” also say that you can’t have a data recovery time for safety reasons?
I know a lot of people who have had their accounts hacked, even with very long STRONG passwords. It can be done very easily by anyone with this kind of knowledge. I am sure WW does not have a strong wall of defense against hackers. (dupers, hackers, spoilers from the data base, these are all out there and exist.)There needs to be a safeguard, a way to prove it is truly the account holder. I see people with years of collecting being hacked, cleared out and account go POOF!!! Not a pleasant thought.
the site isn’t extremely insecure, and the amount of hackers out there that care about hacking webkinz is extremely minimal. what you described is hardly going to happen.
I have several friends whose accounts were hacked! With very secure passwords. They were able to gain access again by proving it was their account, but the accounts had been cleaned out within the time it took. Now, all they have to do is clean it out and delete it, no way to trace it back. These people have always been doing this in WW, had a friend just a few months ago get hit. It does happen. Hackers do not care that it is a game, they do it because they can
if you’re purposely leaving traces of yourself anywhere, then that’s your own fault. if you’re safe with your information, literally, not even potentially hinting anywhere, you’re safe.
I would feel a lot safer if there was account recovery time. Even 72 hours–just something so that in the event of an accident or error that this could be recovered. It probably wouldn’t even be a feature that is used very often–just something so that dedicated users feel safer.
Same. Pls have a recovery period. :(
yeah
Change your passwords NOW
Oh dear…. this could be way too easy for young children to do. I preferred when this option was in the parents area. I’d hate for my child to delete their account after I spent so much money on it for them.
then talk to them about what it could mean? if they’re so young they could accidentally click on it then they should know what clicking it should do. they are not allowed to keep it hidden anymore if they want to keep the site running.