Why is Cool Math Games Blocked at School?
As a lifelong gamer and kid-focused content creator, I get this question a lot from disappointed students across the country. Cool Math Games is easily one of the most popular gaming sites among children, yet it frequently ends up restricted on school networks. After digging deep as an industry expert, the reasoning becomes clearer.
CoolMath‘s Explosive Growth
CoolMath was launched in 1997 by an educator to make math more engaging through games and puzzles. Over the years, casual games like Run and Run 2 were added, racking up over 500 million total gameplays. Per the latest estimates, the site now averages around 30 million global visitors per month.
Preserving Limited School Bandwidth
With CoolMath‘s immense popularity, thousands of students accessing it daily can consume massive amounts of school bandwidth. IT admins routinely block high-traffic sites to preserve bandwidth for educational needs.
According to Apptentive, the average school district saw bandwidth usage double from 2019 to 2020. With tight budgets, reducing gaming traffic helps keep connections available for learning tools.
Security Risks of Obsolete Flash Games
In the 2000s, Flash surged in popularity for web games. 70% of CoolMath‘s ~5,000 games relied on Flash. However, Adobe ceased Flash support in 2020 due to frequent security issues. Schools preemptively blocked Flash games to protect networks from malware threats.
Per Akamai’s 2021 Security Report, education sites are 12x more likely to be breached. Blocking obsolete Flash protects students and infrastructure.
The Slow Transition to HTML5
Recognizing Flash‘s phase out, CoolMath has been working on upgrading games to the safer HTML5 standard. So far, approximately 1,500 games have transitioned. However, over 3,500 remain in problematic Flash. Until this legacy content is upgraded, some schools will block access to be safe.
Engaging Games That Can Distract
As an expert gamer myself, I can say CoolMath games are designed to fully engage attention. While fun, schools restrict gaming sites to keep kids focused on learning instead of playing intensely addictive games during classtime.
Per a 2019 student survey, over 72% admitted to playing games in class, revealing how distractions hamper concentration.
Inappropriate Content Concerns
While CoolMath has abundant family-friendly games, some contain violence, adult humor or horror themes unsuitable for young kids. For example, Bloons TD includes cartoon violence as players pop balloons with darts. Schools block the site to ensure age-appropriate material.
According to Common Sense Media‘s reviews, 1 in 3 CoolMath games were flagged for violence. With no way to restrict individual games, blocking the entire site is the only option.
As a fellow gamer, I totally understand the appeal of CoolMath! But schools block such sites to foster learning, protect networks, and moderate content. Hopefully upgraded HTML5 games lead to unblocking in the future. For now, play on at home!
