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
I love looking at the creative pet names in the Arcade – I sometimes take pictures of them to show my kids – but I was appalled by those bad/mean names that kept showing up on certain games. I will miss seeing the good names, but I appreciate you doing what you can to try to remedy this situation. Thank you for your effort.
I submitted a couple of names but it’s been brought to my attention that there were so many more. I think saying they’re common words isn’t fair because you should give the word filter word combinations instead of just single words. Furthermore, someone gave a list of some of the names that managed to get through and I don’t know how these managed to pass your filter. For so long Webkinz has been a safe place. Please keep it that way
thank you for addressing this and keeping Webkinz friendly for all
Thank you for all you do. How disappointing that some people have to be so ill-mannered.
Thank you for making Webkinz safe and fun again.
should I change my stuff around ? I was one of them who had a message about this?
Thank you for finally addressing this and taking measures to ensure a safer experience and space for all! I have been burnt out, and quite frankly bored with all the back-to-back collection events with no breaks in between, repeating events (looking at you never-ending monthly Wacky events and even the Magic W floaties now), and constant challenges, and the hostile environment this seemingly singular, same person was creating in the arcade daily for months was almost the last straw to make me quit the game ! So, even though I do enjoy seeing my pets’ names as the Highest Scorer of the Day when that happens from time to time and the fun, creative names other people come up with, I am more than okay with this solution for the time being to stop the intentionally inflammatory naming abuse that’s been happening!!
It’s so sad that some people do such mean things, especially to children. Thank you so much for working on stopping these words from coming in.
I was absolutely and thoroughly appalled when I found my first one and reported it. :(
I`m glad this is being fixed, I was wondering how those names were being allowed. Good job Webkinz team!!!
Ditto, I feel the same as all of you. why can’t certain people leave the good and pure for all alone.