Is the Kik messenger app safe?

When used responsibly, the Kik messenger app is a safe way for cellphone users to send and receive messages. Kik messages are free to send and permit the user to message using a username, not a phone number.

Kik permits its users to chat with people they know and other individuals who are anonymous. There is concern when children or teens use the app to message with someone they do not know, since there is no guarantee that unknown users are sending appropriate content.

There are settings in the Kik app that allow users to block their information, block other users and prohibit new people from contacting them. These safeguards help make the app safer for vulnerable users.