Exposing apps: Kik

In this time, I will be exposing the app of Kik, an instant messaging app similar to Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Project Z, etc...

Index:

App icon

What's Kik according to the internet?

"Kik Messenger, commonly called Kik, is a freeware instant messaging mobile app from the Canadian company Kik Interactive, available free of charge on iOS and Android operating systems. It uses a smartphone's data plan or Wi-Fi to transmit and receive messages, photos, videos, sketches, mobile web pages, and other content after users register a username. Kik is known for its features preserving users' anonymity, such as allowing users to register without the need to provide a telephone number or valid email address. However, the application does not employ end-to-end encryption, and the company also logs user IP addresses, which could be used to determine the user's ISP and approximate location." - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kik was originally launched in 2010, although it's development started back in 2009, after the foundation of it's company, Kik Interactive, by some students of the University of Waterloo, on Canada.

Controversies

Like many other social media services Kik has garnered negative attention due to instances of minors exchanging explicit messages and photos with adults causing law enforcement and the media to frequently express concerns about the app. Automated spam bots have also been used to distribute explicit images and text over Kik Messenger. A state law enforcement official interviewed by The New York Times in February 2016 identified Kik as "the problem app of the moment". Police said they found Kik's response frustrating and one detective said obtaining information from Kik was a "bureaucratic nightmare". Constable Jason Cullum of Northamptonshire Police paedophile online investigation team stated delays in obtaining information from the company increased the risk to children. Cullum stated, "It's incredibly frustrating. We're banging our heads against a brick wall. There's a child that's going to be abused for probably another 12 months before we know who that is." Since its acquisition by Medialab Kik has revamped its policies and launched a variety of tools and resources including a guide for law enforcement and parents.

Most actual problems of Kik are bots inciting you to register onto explicit livestreams pages, most of these bots can be found promoting themselves on Omegle.com, a free anonimous chatting website, both for video and chat.

Some groups I found searching certain words

After some research on Kik, I found some groups mostly related to sharing explicit content about a certain thing or simply explicit roleplay (also named by people as ERP). Like this for example, when you search "splatoon".

Some of these groups are kinda normal, to search for friends to play Splatoon 2 or for private matches. But we should look at the 2 other groups with the Marie icon. Those are groups that shares explicit content of Splatoon, also known as "Rule 34" (Rule 34 of the internet - if something exist, there's porn of it)

Something similar can happen if we search Nintendo, Zelda, or even Pokemon. Even Fortnite

Otherwise, there's some normal groups, like these about Xbox, the Microsoft console brand

Notice the name "LINK = CRIMINAL AND PEDO". Most probably they say this because of the ship between Link and Zelda.

The thing doesn't end here, there's way more stupid searches I made, like I tried to search the name Marie and this happened

And also this is what I've found while searching Pokemon. What the actual fuck???

wtf??????????????? Who tf even roleplays as pokemon characters??? They're practically ANIMALS

Welp, seems like Pokemon is not safe on this app :/

Just as a curiosity, I searched for Eddsworld on this app. Seems like the last group is the only legitimate group related to Eddsworld on Kik

Another problem of this app is that I can't join no group due to an error on the app, or maybe because I have to use a normal cell phone for this, but I ain't risking my LG K30 for this horny ass app.

However, I don't want to check this app anymore, so let's just go straight to the conclusion

Conclusion

The Kik app can still be used to chat with people, although I wouldn't recommend downloading it, due to certain factors, including the distribution of child pornography, as reported by some news outlets on Google. Although the app is quite attractive and has more than interesting functions. However, I would think twice before downloading Kik.

Alternatives

Don't despair, there are still highly recommended alternatives such as the well-known Discord or Project Z.

CREDITS

This article was created entirely by Splat's Mod, some of the information is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. All the pictures we're made with the cutting tool from Windows, the app was used on Bluestacks version 5.

4th of March, 2022