Reactions & Emojis
Reactions and emoji feedback allow participants to give nonverbal feedback without interrupting the speaker. Reactions appear in the participants list and in the presentation view, making them visible to everyone in real time.
Available Reactions
BigBlueButton offers a variety of emoji reactions that you can use to provide quick feedback during a session. The available reactions include:
- Thumbs up and thumbs down
- Various facial expressions (e.g., smile, surprise)
- Applause
- Additional emojis accessible via the arrow button
How to Send a Reaction
- Locate the reaction button in the bottom toolbar of the presentation area.
- Click on the desired emoji to send your reaction.
- To access more emojis, click the arrow button to expand the full emoji selection.
How Reactions Are Displayed
When a participant sends a reaction, it appears in two places:
- Participants list: The emoji is shown next to the participant's name.
- Presentation area: The reaction is displayed as a floating emoji visible to all participants.
Reactions automatically disappear after approximately 35 seconds. You do not need to manually remove them.
Reactions vs. Participant Status
It is important to understand the difference between reactions and the participant status feature:
| Feature | Reactions | Participant Status |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Temporary (auto-reset after ~35 seconds) | Persistent (until manually reset) |
| Purpose | Spontaneous feedback | Indicate availability (e.g., Away) |
| Options | Multiple emojis | Away status only (BBB 2.7+) |
Use reactions for quick polls and feedback during presentations. For example, ask participants to give a thumbs up if they can hear you clearly, or to applaud after a presentation segment.
Practical Use Cases
- Quick opinion polls: "Thumbs up if everything is clear"
- Audio check at the start: "Thumbs up if you can hear me"
- Reacting to presentation content without interrupting the speaker
- Showing agreement or disagreement during discussions