For the past few weeks, a bad actor has been actively creating free accounts with offensive pet names and then earning high scores in specific games so that those pet names are shown to all players. We have been removing these names as fast as we can find them. Unfortunately, this person refuses to stop and at this time we have been forced to take more drastic steps.
We have now reduced the number of letters shown in our high score lists and high score displays in the arcade for pet names down to three, matching the Usernames. This is not a long-term solution, as we know that players work hard to get onto these lists and enjoy seeing their pets displayed, but it will effectively stop the problem.
Our pet name system relies on a bad word filter, aka a blacklist. We block hundreds of bad words and words that we don’t want to see in pet names. And for over twenty years, this has worked. The vast majority of players give their pets fun names that expresses their creativity and love for their pet. Unfortunately, people can say very bad things with common words that are not bad words by themselves.
We are looking into longer term solutions that will maintain our players ability to use fun and creative names, while preventing the abuse we are seeing here. We hope to roll these out in the new year.
We do apologize to all players who have had to view these offensive names. We value all our incredible players and see Webkinz World as an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone.
The Webkinz Team
To any players unhappy with not being able to use the word “basement” on their house maps for the Acorn Collection, get creative and use something like “bacement.” When naming some of my rooms, I’ve had to use “plurple” instead of “purple” for some reason.
Plurple is actually so freaking adorable
Bassment works
someone has to try to spoil things for everyone for their 2 minutes of fame. good job webkinz for actively doing something about this.
Thankz so much! It was really starting to bother me, seeing those unkind messages in the pet names. I’m an adult, so I can’t imagine what it would be like for younger players to see that stuff. I noticed that it was always a penguin pet that would have an awful name, I had no idea it was a free account player who was able to do that. Thankz again, Ganz!!!!
Just another example of bad apples spoiling things for people. What’s even more frustrating, is the fact that this is a family platform, so these wicked individuals know full well that young children will be affected. Thank you for being on top of the situation and keeping us in the loop. We look forward to seeing what our wonderful tech team comes up with. Go get those bad guys team! (Good thing that we have Sheriff clothes for them)
THANK YOU!!! I don’t understand why people have to be so rude!! And, to what purpose?? Did they really think they would change anyone’s view on any social or political issue they held? It didn’t even make sense to me! Thanks, again, for your continued vigilance and for making Webkinz a really safe and fun place!
You guys are the absolute best!! I knew you would figure something out, even on the short term, and hopefully they’ll get a life and move on. Thank you, both for making a wonderful, joyful game and for keeping it safe for all of us, of all ages. The only politics I want to see on Webkinz is the Kinzville Mayoral Race!
I tried to name my reindeer Comet, after Santa’s famous reindeer, nope, wouldn’t let me. Could not name my pet peekaboo, had to spell it peakaboo to make it work. Now the latest, could name one of my rooms basement, had to change to downstairs. What is inappropriate about basement? I found none of my choices inappropriate.
I couldn’t name a room “Museum of Art” and had to use “Art Museum” instead. Some of the decisions are a bit inscrutable. I’m really glad they’re getting rid of the truly inappropriate names, though. I see the issue (I think) with “basement” and “Peekaboo”, but I think it’s silly. I wonder what’s wrong with “Comet”, though, unless the algorithm can’t spell.
What is wrong with Museum of Art? I have an Art Museum. I have all my rooms in alpha order, so Art Museum fit better.
I assume it’s because if you remove the space between “of” and “art” there’s a slightly rude word in there? But I still think that it’s pretty ridiculous. I’m all for going after the hateful, homophobic names, though. I also think it’s silly to ban common words like “basement” and “Peek-a-Boo” just because of words embedded within them. I mean, there is absolutely nothing even *remotely* inappropriate about the word “basement”.
Wish evil people would get a job or something. How bad is your life that you try to ruin everybody else’s. Webkinz is for kind, good people. Evil doers just GO AWAY
True I wish that to not only Webkinz Classic but Roblox has similar issues it’s like bad actors are trying to ruin fun for kids. I just hope that Webkinz both Classic and next will NOT have AI age verification that’s why I moved back to Webkinz plus nostalgia.
Thank you for hearing us!
Too many evil people. Thank you for trying to always protecting us.