Listen to Article
Updated – Originally published January 3, 2024
Direct messaging apps have had explosive growth over the past decade.
There were just over 3 billion users in 2021 and estimates put that number closer to 3.5 billion by 2025.
Kik is one of many options for a direct messaging app that has been riding that growth to over 300 million users, and a reputation that precedes it — and not in a good way.
What is Kik?
Kik is a popular messaging app among kids and teens. It has gained a reputation as one of the least safe messaging apps available. Specifically, Kik has a history of cyberbullying, child grooming, and even murder.
Is Kik Anonymous?
Kik’s primary selling point is its guaranteed anonymity. Users don’t need to exchange names or numbers, just usernames to be able to chat.
How Does Kik Work?
Kik connects users and allows them to chat anonymously. It also allows users to create public groups similar to forums on Reddit and Discord.
One key feature of Kik is the chatbot, which brands primarily use to create engagement through the use of AI-generated responses. Some of these chatbots are even created and pushed by companies as advertisements, while others are created to lure users into clicking spam and phishing links.
Kik initially tried to monetize the app through an unregistered cryptocurrency and was nearly shut down. After a lengthy fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—it was narrowly saved by being acquired.
Is Kik Safe to Use? 5 Hidden Dangers of Kik
To be clear, Kik isn’t that different from other messaging apps, but there are multiple reasons its popularity among teens can cause alarm when it comes to online safety.
Before we get into the functionality that makes Kik a dangerous app for kids and teens, it’s important to know that teens are a primary audience for the company.
Even though the app is listed as 17+ in app stores, about 70% of its user base is made up of young people 14-24 years old.
2. Kik Users are Anonymous
One of the biggest safety factors with Kik is that the users can remain anonymous. There is no requirement for a user to include their real name or phone number. All a new user needs is an email address, which can be created in minutes. There are several implications that come with anonymous messaging, including shielding users who are intentionally causing harm.
Because of their focus on anonymity, Kik is frequently used for cyberbullying and harassment, as well as extortion and child exploitation by sexual predators.
Any anonymous user can direct message (DM) another user without the recipient accepting an invite first. This means anyone can send explicit text, pictures, or videos to your teen without their consent. There are chat options that can stop random messages, but the standard setting is to allow messages from anyone.
While its terms and conditions have rules that are very similar to other social platforms, Kik’s anonymity, coupled with minimal usage tracking makes enforcement of its policies problematic.
3. Kik Used for Sexual Encounters
Kik is also used by adults who are looking to cheat on their spouses or significant others. The app is anonymous and easy to hide, which makes it a convenient tool for unfaithful partners.
Is Kik a Dating App?
Kik used to come equipped with a feature called Flirt! which functioned similarly to Tinder. However, since being acquired, Kik does not have an official dating function.
However, a recent addition to Kik’s features is Kik-it, a chat function that allows users to connect over shared interests and chat for only 15 minutes before the chat is closed. This allows people to briefly connect, exchange racy messages, and leave no trace.
The allure of anonymity creates room for sexually charged dynamics and curates a culture of secrecy on Kik that is unhealthy and dangerous for children.
An anonymous messaging platform with promiscuity galore that is also heavily marketed to teens is a recipe for problems. Your teen could think they’re talking to a like-minded peer when they could be a victim of catfishing, or grooming by a sexual predator.
As one CBS report made disturbingly clear, Kik is an especially dangerous site when it comes to sexual predators. One convicted predator, who spent 10 years in prison for molestation, called Kik “a predator’s paradise.”
4. Kik Has No Parental Controls
Kik does have some privacy and chat settings that can create some boundaries for users, but there are no parental controls or functions. This makes it difficult to ensure your child or teen is not being exposed to explicit content or dangerous users.
5. Kik Streaming is Steamy
What is Kik Live? Well, like other social and messaging apps, Kik allows users to livestream themselves to the world. While this isn’t inherently problematic, Kik keeps the live streams at the top of the app with a focus on the most popular streams.
The highest-ranked streams tend to be sexually charged, with nearly nude content dominating the top slots, meaning users are being regularly fed explicit or near-explicit content.
Kik is Not for Kids
The reality is that Kik is not at all made to be safe for kids and teens — there are far too few ways to make it a safe and secure experience.
Talking to kids about unsafe messaging apps like Kik can be really difficult. Kids may feel offended or awkward at the thought of the conversation. Approaching conversations with confidence in our children and reassuring them that we love them is a great way to start.
How to Delete Kik
If you or your teen have Kik, it may be a good idea to talk to them about the many dangers that the app brings and explore alternative solutions that are not so sketchy.
To permanently delete a Kik account:
- Visit Kik’s delete page.
- Enter your username.
- Enter your email address.
- Give a reason from the dropdown menu for deleting the account.
- Check the box indicating that you definitely want to delete the account.
- Hit “Go!”
While deleting an account from Kik denies you access to Kik through the login credentials, Kik does not specify how long it’ll take to delete your data — or even whether it’ll delete it at all.
Start with the Safest Phones for Kids
If you want to keep your kids away from dangerous apps like Kik, or other addictive social platforms, Gabb could be a great fit. You don’t have to compromise your child’s safety just to stay connected.
Gabb as a company is entirely focused on safe tech for kids. Our lineup of devices provide a “tech in steps” approach so you can pick the right phone for your child’s maturity level — but none of our phones allow for the download of dangerous apps like Kik.
Through Gabb’s messaging service, parents get an easy-to-use monitoring tool that still provides kids autonomy while keeping them protected from spam and explicit messages.
What are your experiences with Kik like? Have your children asked about it? Let us know in the comments!
TL;DR
In a hurry? TL;DR stands for “Too Long, Didn’t Read.” Find a quick summary below.
What is Kik?
Kik is a messaging app that prioritizes anonymity, and has gained a reputation as one of the least safe messaging apps available.
Kik targets teens
Kik is listed as 17+ in app stores, but the app targets teens: around 70% of the app’s users are between the ages of 13-24.
Kik users are anonymous
All a user needs is an email address to sign up, making it a haven for cyberbullying, extortion, and child exploitation.
Kik has a dating app
Flirt!, a Tinder-like experience, serves up potential matches to the user—encouraging them to swipe for their preferred matches.
Kik streaming is too sexual
Kik Live is a streaming service built into Kik, which highlights the top streams, which are primarily women or men with as little clothing as is permitted by Kik.
Kik has no parental controls
Many social apps are starting to implement parental controls, and sophisticated filtering, but despite their user-base being primarily teens and young people, Kik has not developed these settings.
Kik is not for kids
This app bills itself to brands as a place to market to teens and young people, but the app is not at all made to be safe for kids and teens.
Author Josh Ruggles
Josh is Gabb’s Director of Content. He is a husband and father of two who jumped at the chance to work with Gabb after looking for a less addictive device for his daughter’s first phone. Before Gabb, Josh told stories for Skullcandy, 3M, and Pluralsight and has been published in multiple action sports magazines, including Snowboard Magazine and Arkade Magazine.
Success!
Your comment has been submitted for review! We will notify you when it has been approved and posted!
Thank you!