Kick - does anyone know about it ?

[swallowthree]

12 year old daughter wants a mobile phone with internet so that she can use Kick. Does anyone know much about Kick and how it works ? Is it like Facebook but for younger people ? Is it safe ? Could she just go on the computer and use it instead ? Not keen on mobile with internet access for twelve year old.

It's a messenger service, like BBM I think. Ds1 has it.
He uses it on the iPad as well as his phone, not sure if you can use it on a computer.

Can it only be used on iphones or any phone ?

My ds uses it on his nexus. Only to message me and his dad though. It's not a social network, it's just like texting.

I don't think it's just iPhones, it's an app as far as I know. I think it is so they can text for free.

Watch out. My 12yo dd received a lot of sexual messages from strangers who fish for girls on kick.

1. It's free
2. I'm 10 and I have it
3. Every month someone will pop up saying hi so just go in setting>privacy>block lists> add block

jill she must have broadcast her kik ID somewhere for that to happen

Kik is renowned for being full of porn spammers, and for that reason, schools advise that under 18s shouldn't have it.

It is indeed renowned for porn ! Someone on here suggested reading the app reviews. I had to have a lie down on a chaise long with smelling salts.

It's banned at our school.

No it is not safe.
No it is NOT designed for youngsters and is nothing like Facebook
Apple have rated it 17+ for a reason.
Users use the app for live sex talk.
Read the reviews out there about the app. They really are an eye opener.
There is no way for you to monitor what is happening at all.
People are using fake profiles (yes happens everywhere), and there are huge concerns that predators are using the app knowing minors are allowed access.
Just looking at some of the cards on the friends bit should be enough to put you off... Pictures of cocks and breasts seem to be the norm.
It is one of the top 8 worse apps for minors.
It has no parental controls at all.

Totally agree BloodyTeenagers, kik comes with a whole load of risks for younger teenagers plus no parental monitoring or control. Big NO imo.

I have Kik and use it to communicate with my dsds for free.
None of us have had any problems (that I am aware of).

It's a messaging app, for phones only, it sends what is affectively a text for free.

I have not had any spam, or any requests from anyone I haven't given my ID to. If you make sure your child only adds people who are obviously someone she knows and doesn't give out her ID to anyone she doesn't know and explain what to do if she gets a spam message it should be ok.

You could check her phone every so often to make sure she knows everyone in her list of conversations.

I don't think the risk of inappropriate messages being sent between kids is any more of a problem than with text messages.

The benefit of this is that it is free, so you don't have your child complaining of a lack of credit 24/7.

Kick, (spelt kik) is a program synonymous with trading naked photos. dont let a 13 year old use it...

my 13yr old was groomed on kik

The downside of kick is that it's set up with a username, so the phone number isn't shared, hence why there's so much sexual grooming etc.
NOT a good idea for youngsters

My dd 11 has it. She only talks to a couple of friends on it, after reading this thread I have asked her to delete it.
We are fairly tech savvy but this info passed me by.
I'm not taking any chances
She can use what's app for free texts.

Just goggle Kik review or Kik unsafe and you'll find tons of warnings and even a Youtube video explaining why it is bad.
The texts disappears when you log out, full of porn, anyone who knows your nickname can contact you and many kids have the same nickname on Instagram, ...
Just use iMessage, Skype or any more controlled messaging service