What is Kik? Is it safe for kids?

Kik is an anonymous chat app that only requires an email to sign up. Of course, being anonymous does not make it private, nor does it make Kik safe for kids. In fact, the company explicitly states you must be over 18 to create an account.

Its anonymity is what makes Kik unsafe for kids in the first place, as they may be contacted by strangers without the best intentions. Other risks include inappropriate live streams, random chats and groups, and limited parental controls (being an 18+ app and all).

We’ll explain all these risks in more detail below, along with how to prevent your child from going on Kik and what you can do to make your experience safer as an adult.

What is Kik?

Kik is a messaging app that lets you chat with friends using just a username instead of your phone number, so you can stay relatively anonymous while texting, sharing photos, or joining group conversations with people who share your interests.

Unlike WhatsApp and other texting apps that tie everything to your real identity, Kik is geared more towards meeting new people in public chat rooms or chatting with people you already know through your unique handle instead of sharing your number.

What is Kik streaming?

Kik also has a live-streaming feature called Kik Live! (not to be confused with Kick, a Twitch-like streaming service). You can broadcast yourself in real time to followers or the public, allowing viewers to comment and interact via a chat feed that runs alongside the video.

The content varies widely, from casual hangouts to promotional broadcasts. Kids may encounter strangers or inappropriate material, despite Kik’s terms of service stating it terminates and deletes offending accounts.

Is Kik safe for kids? The risks explained

No, Kik is not safe for kids. The company states that only users 18+ may sign up for new accounts. Here’s why you shouldn’t let your child access Kik:

• Anonymous sign-up: You can create an account with just an email without verifying your age or identity (outside the UK). Predators may pose as teenagers and contact minors without revealing who they are.
• Random chats and public groups: With Kik’s Meet New People you can join a 15-minute conversation with strangers, while Kik-it lets you post a message in a public feed where others can start a similar timed chat.
• Chat history can disappear: Kik clears your chat history when you log out, log in from a different device, delete the Kik app, or deactivate your account. In addition, Kik has temporary chat features that can make it harder for parents to review conversations.
• Potentially inappropriate streams: Live broadcasts may contain unfiltered content (including suggestive streams), which kids can access without age verification or content warnings.
• Sextortion scams: Predators may trick kids into sharing intimate photos, then threaten to distribute them unless the victim sends money or more explicit content.
• Limited parental control settings: As an 18+ app, Kik only offers an in-app “Safe Search” option on Android, while iOS has a “Show NSFW Content” toggle in its settings. Both features filter and blur inappropriate content and images, but can be disabled by any tech-savvy child.

Keep your kids off Kik with these parental control options

While Kik has no meaningful parental controls, you still have plenty of tools at your disposal to keep your kids off the platform. Here are your options:

• Device screen limits: Set time limits and app restrictions through built-in tools on iOS and Android. On iPhone, Screen Time lets you block Kik, restrict app installs, and require approval for downloads. On Android, Family Link can lock specific apps, control installs, and set daily usage caps for supervised accounts.
• Router DNS filtering: Configure DNS filtering on your home router to block access to Kik domains and related services across all devices on your network. Services like OpenDNS or NextDNS let you set custom blocklists that stop connections before the app can load or send data through Wi-Fi.
• Third-party parental control apps: Block Kik, track app usage, and set content restrictions with tools like Qustodio, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and others.

Now, kids are more resourceful than we give them credit for, so they may end up bypassing your filters. It helps to set clear rules for what to do if a stranger asks for their phone number or tries to move the chat from Kik to an encrypted app like WhatsApp or Telegram.

How to use Kik safely

Kids aren’t the only ones facing potential dangers on Kik. Here are some tips on how to use Kik safely as an adult:

• Sign up with a temporary email: If Kik experiences a data breach, then your email and username will be linked together. Use a burner email you’re fine with losing if it gets exposed.
• Avoid usernames with personal details: Choose a username that does not include your real name, school, location, or birth year. Also, don’t share it on other social accounts so it can’t be linked back to you.
• Limit messages to known contacts: Only respond to people you already know or have verified outside the app. Block and report unknown users rather than start conversations with them.
• Reject files from unknown users: Do not open images, links, or downloads sent by strangers. Remove suspicious messages immediately to avoid scams, malware, or other harmful content.
• Leave unmoderated live streams: Exit streams that seem designed to pull people into DMs. These spaces often attract unsolicited contact and unsafe interactions.
• Don’t join random chats or groups: Features like “Meet New People” and “Kik-it” sound good on paper, but you may end up with more unwanted messages than you bargained for.
• Understand Kik’s limits on stored data: Remember that Kik doesn’t store your chat data, and clears your history if you log out, delete the app, and so on. Take screenshots of conversations in case you need to report an issue later.

What is Kik? FAQs