Kik Messenger

Not to be confused with Kick (service).

Kik Messenger
Original author(s)Kik Interactive Inc.
Developer(s)MediaLab AI, Inc.
Initial releaseOctober 19, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-10-19)
Stable release
Android15.50.1.27996[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 17 March 2023; 19 months ago (17 March 2023)[2][3]
iOS16.8.3[4] Edit this on Wikidata / 25 February 2023; 20 months ago (25 February 2023)[5]
Operating systemiOS 10 or later, Android 4.1 or later
Available inEnglish
TypeInstant messaging client
LicenseFreeware
Websitewww.kik.com

Kik Messenger, commonly called Kik, is a freeware instant messaging mobile app from the Canadian company Kik Interactive, available on iOS and Android operating systems.[6]

The application uses a smartphone's internet connection to transmit and receive messages, photos, videos, sketches, mobile web pages, and other content after users register a username.[7]

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,[8] and the company also logs user IP addresses, which could be used to determine the user's ISP and approximate location.[9][10] This information, as well as "reported" conversations, are regularly surrendered upon request by law enforcement organizations,[11] sometimes without the need for a court order.[12]

Kik was originally intended to be a music-sharing app[13] before transitioning to messaging, briefly offering users the ability to send a limited number of SMS text messages directly from the application.[14]

During the first 15 days after Kik's re-release as a messaging app, over 1 million accounts were created.[15] In May 2016, Kik Messenger announced that they had approximately 300 million registered users, and was used by approximately 40% of United States' teenagers.[16][17]

Kik Messenger was acquired by Medialab Technology in October 2019.[18]

  1. ^ "Kik Messenger: 15.50.1.27996 Mar 17, 2023". 17 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Kik - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
  3. ^ "Kik APKs". APKMirror.
  4. ^ "Kik Messenger: Version History: 16.8.3 Feb 25, 2023". 25 February 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Kik". App Store.
  6. ^ "How do I get the Kik app". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  7. ^ "Is Kik Free?". Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  8. ^ Wagner, Kurt (2015-12-21). "Is Your Messaging App Encrypted?". Vox. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  9. ^ Dingman, Shane (2015-03-16). "For Fast-Growing Chat Apps Like Waterloo's Kik, Child Exploitation a Pervasive Threat". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  10. ^ "Kik's Guide for Law Enforcement" (PDF). Kik Messenger. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  11. ^ "Law Enforcement Guide – Law Enforcement Resource Center". 2020-10-08. Archived from the original on 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  12. ^ "Download our Emergency Disclosure Request Form – Law Enforcement Resource Center". 2020-10-08. Archived from the original on 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  13. ^ ""The Product – Bringing Music to the BlackBerry"" (PDF). 2009-11-22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  14. ^ "Kik | Text Anyone for Free". 2010-05-13. Archived from the original on 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  15. ^ "Kik Interactive | Crazy Start-Up World". 2010-11-15. Archived from the original on 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  16. ^ "Kik already has over 6,000 bots reaching 300 million registered users". Tech Crunch. 11 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Kik adds senior vice president of engineering to scale engineering and product teams". www.kik.com. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  18. ^ "KIK APP ACQUIRED BY HOLDING COMPANY MEDIALAB". betakit.