Kik Messenger

Kik Messenger is an instant messenger available since 2010 for smartphones. It can be related through the official channels of the respective platforms such as Google Play or iTunes Store and is available free of charge.

History

In January 2009, the Kik Interactive Inc. was founded by students of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Following the publication of the first version of Kik Messenger in October 2010, the number of users grew steadily as well.

In November 2013 saw the free app over 100 million users. The majority of users of the Messengers is 11-15 years old.

Functions

Kik Messenger is a member of the instant messaging programs, and is in contrast to SMS does not have its own service of mobile operator, but uses the Internet. The application is available for the operating systems Android, Apple iOS, Blackberry OS, Nokia Series 40, and Windows Phone.

In contrast to WhatsApp to Kik can be installed on non -GSM- enabled mobile devices, such as tablet computers.

In addition to sending text and voice messages, there is the opportunity to share photo and video files, YouTube videos, and even drawn images, so-called sketches to share.

For Contacting other Members not their phone number, but whose user name is used. There is no request for contact, other persons may be contacted without their explicit consent.

Criticism

Criminologists and protection of young people warn Kik Messenger is particularly attractive for Pedophiles because chats anonymously without giving the mobile number and the exchange of media files are unrestricted. In the evaluation area of the Play stores explicitly aimed at minors find contact requests as well as users that deny each contact initiations by pedophiles.