Kik is a free messenger app for iOS and Android mobile devices. It allows users to live stream, private message, and to join public groups. 

Here’s what parents need to know about Kik.  

What is Kik?

Kik was released in 2010. Although its popularity has fluctuated, it has over 15 million monthly users. 

It describes itself as a messaging app, with direct messaging, live streams and public group chat as its primary functions. Kik requires users to be over 18 in order to access the platform. Despite this, there is no robust age verification process in place. 

Once a new user has created an account, they can add friends by searching their phone contacts, or can find others in ‘public groups’. 

Public groups can be searched for by tapping the ‘+’ symbol on the homepage and then using specific terms or hashtags like ‘Sports’ or ‘Films’. 

How does Kik work?

Users create an account by entering an email address and a date of birth. As mentioned, there’s nothing to verify a user’s date of birth. The email address an individual provides doesn’t have to be verified either. 

After entering these details and selecting a username your account will be created. You then have the option to personalise your profile by adding things like pictures and a bio. 

As soon as you log in you’ll also be given the option to receive messages from people you don’t know. You can select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ at this point, and can update your preferences at any time in the ‘Chat settings’ part of your profile. 

Like other messenger apps and social media platforms, Kik lets users speak to existing friends and meet new people. You can chat to existing friends by searching for them in your phone’s contacts, or by typing in their username. 

Kik’s public groups allow users to explore shared interests and to start conversations with others who they might not know. 

Live streaming is also a key feature of Kik, and a number of live streams are visible as soon as you log in. Users can watch a variety of different streamers and can also live stream themselves, gain fans, and give or receive donations. 

What do you need to know?

There are several things to be aware of when it comes to children and young people using Kik.  

Advertising and spending 

Kik heavily features pop-up advertisements. Some ads are dismissible, but others disrupt use of the app until the ad has played. Kik also asks users for permission to track their activity on other apps and websites in order to personalise these ads. 

Continuously being marketed products – especially with personalised ads – can create a pressure to spend for some users. 

Viewers of live streams are also able to send donations to the streamer. This essentially allows them to ‘level up’ and to be recognised as a bigger, more committed fan. These donations are bought with ‘credits’, and some credit bundles carry price tags of up to £400. 

Developing a personal relationship with a streamer may create a significant pressure to spend money on Kik.

Harmful content and contact

Adult and illegal content – like public groups with sexual themes or which reference drug taking – is easily visible on the platform. Within these groups you’ll find links to adult sites beyond Kik. 

Because under-18s are able to access Kik by entering a false date of birth, they can easily be exposed to this when using the platform. 

Kik does state that it will take down live streams involving nudity, but many live streams are sexually suggestive and can also include offensive language and drug taking. 

Once you’ve joined a public group, you’ll be able to receive messages from other members. Some messages and groups involve the selling of drugs or pornographic material.

Occasionally, public groups will focus on ‘meet ups’ in a specific area. This can lead to an increased risk of dangerous offline contact. 

If an individual's preferences allow contact from unknown users, then they might receive direct messages of a similar adult or risky nature without even joining these public groups.

What are the safety features? 

Kik’s ‘Chat settings’ allow users to restrict contact from others who they don’t know. Users can also enable an ‘explicit message filter’, but how this filter actually works isn’t obvious. 

By tapping the ‘three dots’ on a user’s profile or by tapping their image in a chat, users have the ability to report and block. When reporting via the chat, they have the option to include the chat history for moderators to review. 

Users are also able to report streams by tapping the ‘!’ symbol. They are then able to select a reason for the report and can submit additional supporting details. After a report is made the streamer is automatically blocked. 

Kik states in its term of service that live streams involving nudity, hate speech, or illegal behaviours will result in the streams being taken down and accounts being banned. 

But given the amount of adult content that can be seen on Kik, much of this appears to avoid moderation. 

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