Students
What can I do if I’m being bullied?
Talk to someone you trust – like a teacher, friend, or family member – or call a helpline if you feel that you’re being bullied through Kahoot!, on social media, or in-person. No matter how overwhelming it may seem, there is always someone there to help. Bullying is never acceptable, and it’s important to reach out to someone for help rather than suffer in silence.
If a student has created a kahoot that makes you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, you should instantly flag the kahoot and talk to a teacher, who will guide you through the situation. Read more on flagging inappropriate content.
Even though we implemented a profanity filter for nicknames, students might still create nicknames that target and upset you. If this happens, it’s important to talk to a teacher who will help resolve the situation. Often a teacher won’t understand the context behind a nickname. It’s essential to inform the teacher why it was inappropriate so they can make sure it’s never used again.
Getting questions wrong is part of learning. Everyone will see a red screen from time to time. If a fellow student directs mean and offensive remarks at you based on your performance in Kahoot!, please inform your teacher.
What can I do if I know someone is being bullied?
Often, people being bullied feel embarrassed and ashamed and won’t seek help. Therefore, it’s vital to be proactive and reach out to those being bullied. Think how you’d like to be approached and supported if you were in their shoes. Spend time with them to find out what’s going on and how you can help. Listen to them and make sure they understand that this is not their fault.
It’s OK to feel like you don’t have all the answers. Trying to help someone who is being bullied is emotionally complex. It’s important to listen, offer calm advice, and never escalate the situation. Seeking help from a teacher or family member and asking for advice on how to proceed is a wise course of action.
If you see that a kahoot has upset a friend, instantly flag it. We review all flagged content and take a zero-tolerance stance on any kahoot that breaches our community guidelines.
Teachers
What can I do to recognize and stop bullying on Kahoot!?
While bullying on Kahoot! is rare, we recommend teachers stay vigilant for any content that may cause upset or violate our community guidelines. We recommend monitoring the kahoots that students create, the nicknames they use while playing, the topics they search for on Kahoot!, and their behavior during live games.
Student-created kahoots
If a student creates a kahoot that has the potential to embarrass or offend another student, or encourages acts of self-harm or violence, get the creator to delete it immediately. Alternatively, flag the kahoot so we can remove it. We recommend all students – especially those who create offensive content – play these anti-bullying kahoots. This will help them understand how even the smallest words and actions affect others.
Nicknames
Nicknames are an integral part of the Kahoot! experience. They act as a great icebreaker, and teachers often tell us how much their students enjoy creating their own! However, sometimes a student may create a nickname that makes fun of a classmate. We recommend informing students before you start a kahoot that offensive nicknames will not be tolerated. While our profanity filter blocks a wide range of offensive terms, it can often be hard to spot if a nickname targets another student. Monitoring how students react to nicknames will help you gauge if it’s designed to cause offense.
Search terms
We also advise monitoring what students search for on Kahoot!, as we do not pre-screen or monitor all content posted. Therefore, sensitive content may be displayed. Do not hesitate to flag any content that has been designed to bully a student or that encourages topics such as self-harm, eating disorders, or violence towards others. One of our moderators will review the kahoot you flagged within 24 hours. Read more on flagging inappropriate content.
Behavior during live games
Kahoot! has the unique ability to bring classrooms together. As well as seeing students fully engaged with a subject, witnessing them bond during a live game is one of the most-loved aspects of Kahoot!. While most of the comments between students during the game are good-natured, we advise monitoring how students interact with each other during a kahoot. Getting questions wrong and seeing the red screen is part and parcel of the Kahoot! learning experience. We recommend monitoring how students interact to ensure the friendly, competitive nature of Kahoot! isn’t replaced with mean-spirited comments. Nobody should feel ashamed of getting a question wrong, because that’s when learning happens!
