This article details the connection modes your participants will use to join your session. By default, each participant's identity is an Avatar.
Choosing your participants' identification mode
From the session:
Click the Settings button, the gear icon at the top of your session.
In the General tab, scroll down to the Participant identity section.
The three identification modes are available to choose from.
1. Beekast account (account required)
Beekast account connection is the most secure way to identify your participants. This mode requires your participants to have a Beekast account and be signed in.
Session access: a Beekast account is required
Participant identification: Beekast account information (first name, last name, and email)
Access to Beekast features: this mode gives you access to Beekast's full potential, including attendance tracking and actions/decisions, as well as the ability for the participant to find the session again at any time from their account
2. Anonymous avatar (Beekast account optional)
Anonymous avatar connection anonymizes the session; it is the default mode. Each participant, with or without an account, is identified by an animal + adjective pair they use to recognize themselves in the session. Avatars are assigned randomly upon connection.
Session access: a Beekast account is optional
Participant identification: a unique avatar made up of an animal and an adjective pair
Access to Beekast features: all activities are accessible, but attendance tracking and actions/decisions are not available through this mode. You won't find your participants' names in your exports and statistics
💡 Good to know
The Avatar is assigned automatically and cannot be changed by the host or owner: only the participant can choose their own
Participants can regenerate their avatar as many times as they like until they're happy with it
3. Username (Beekast account optional)
Participants, with or without an account, must enter a free-text username when joining the session.
📝 The Username identification mode is a premium feature.
Session access: a Beekast account is optional
Participant identification: a free-text username entered by the participant
Access to Beekast features: all activities are accessible, but attendance tracking and actions/decisions are not available through this mode. You won't find your participants' names in your exports and statistics
You can see your session's identification mode at the top of the session, to the left of the Settings gear icon.
Changing the identification mode along the way
As long as no participant has connected to and joined the session, you can change the identification mode as many times as you like.
Once a participant has connected to the session (participation data recorded), the mode can no longer be changed
In that case, you'll need to reset the session to select the desired identification mode again
Access restrictions (password, domain names, emails) are just below, in the same Participant identity section. Domain name and email restrictions are only available with the Beekast account mode.
Summary table of connection modes and restrictions
| Beekast account | Anonymous avatar | Username |
Session access | Account required | Account optional | Account optional |
Participant identification | Beekast account information | A unique avatar | A username |
Assign actions and decisions to participants | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Request attendance confirmation (attendance list) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
All participants find the session in their accounts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Password restriction | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Domain name restriction | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Email restriction | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
❓ FAQ
What is the default identification mode?
Anonymous avatar: each participant is identified by an automatically assigned animal + adjective pair.
Which identification mode is a premium feature?
Only the Username mode is a premium feature. The Beekast account and Anonymous avatar modes are available on the free plan.
How do I change my session's identification mode?
From your session, click the Settings gear icon (at the top of the session), then go to the General tab, Participant identity section.
Can I change the identification mode after the session has started?
Yes, as long as no participant has connected yet. Once a participant has connected, you need to reset the session to change the mode.
What's the difference between Anonymous avatar mode and Username mode?
Both make the Beekast account optional for participants, but Anonymous avatar automatically assigns an animal + adjective pair, while Username is freely entered by the participant.
Where can I see my session's current identification mode?
To the left of the Settings gear icon at the top of the session, or directly in Settings > General > Participant identity.
Is Beekast account mode more secure than the others?
Yes, it's the most secure mode for identifying participants, since it requires a connected Beekast account.