Kik Messenger#Features

Kik Interactive was founded in 2009 by a group of students from the University of Waterloo in Canada who wished to create new technologies for use on mobile smartphones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kik.com/about/|title=Kik|website=www.kik.com|access-date=2020-11-18|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041652/https://www.kik.com/about/|url-status=dead}} Kik Messenger is the first app developed by Kik Interactive, and was released on October 19, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.thirdage.com/news/kik-messenger-gets-good-start-after-october-relaunch_11-4-2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721121837/http://www.thirdage.com/news/kik-messenger-gets-good-start-after-october-relaunch_11-4-2010|archive-date=2011-07-21|title=Kik Messenger Gets off to a Good Start After October Relaunch |publisher=ThirdAge |date=November 4, 2010 |access-date=December 17, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrumors.net/498-kik-messenger-free-messages-for-android-iphone-and-blackberry |title=KiK Messenger, free messages for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry |publisher=Dailyrumors.net |access-date=December 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110150237/http://www.dailyrumors.net/498-kik-messenger-free-messages-for-android-iphone-and-blackberry |archive-date=November 10, 2010 }} Within 15 days of its release, Kik Messenger reached one million user registrations, with Twitter being credited as a catalyst for the new application's popularity.{{cite web |author=Motorola il iDEN |url=http://www.intomobile.com/2010/11/05/kik-messenger-app-iphone-blackberry-android/ |title=Kik Messenger app blows past 1 million users |publisher=Intomobile.com |access-date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230125446/http://www.intomobile.com/2010/11/05/kik-messenger-app-iphone-blackberry-android/ |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

On November 24, 2010, Research In Motion (RIM) removed Kik Messenger from BlackBerry App World and limited the functionality of the software for its users.{{cite web|url=http://benefice-net.branchez-vous.com/actubn/2010/11/rim-blackberry-messenger-kik-application-mobile-concurrence.html |title=RIM bloque une application concurrente A son service BlackBerry Messenger - ActualitAŠs Techno-AŠconomie - TAŠlAŠcoms et mobilitAŠ |publisher=Benefice-net.branchez-vous.com |access-date=December 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127152006/http://benefice-net.branchez-vous.com/actubn/2010/11/rim-blackberry-messenger-kik-application-mobile-concurrence.html |archive-date=November 27, 2010 }} RIM also sued Kik Interactive for patent infringement and misuse of trademarks.{{cite news|last1=Weinberg |first1=Stuart|title=RIM Sues App Maker Kik Over Patents |date=2010-12-01 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704594804575648932379804088|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York City |access-date=2016-02-12}}{{cite news|last1=Silcoff |first1=Sean |last2=McNish |first2=Jacquie |last3=Ladurantaye |first3=Steve |title=Inside the fall of BlackBerry: How the smartphone inventor failed to adapt|date=September 27, 2013|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-inside-story-of-why-blackberry-is-failing/article14563602/?page=all|newspaper=The Globe and Mail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930181216/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-inside-story-of-why-blackberry-is-failing/article14563602/?page=all|archive-date=September 30, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 12, 2019}} In October 2013, the companies settled the lawsuit, with the terms undisclosed.{{cite news|last=Simone |first=Rose|title=Kik eager to move on after settling spat with BlackBerry|date=October 9, 2013|url=http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4146815-kik-eager-to-move-on-after-settling-spat-with-blackberry/|newspaper=The Record.com|access-date=August 8, 2014}}

In November 2014, Kik announced a $38.3 million Series C funding round and its first acquisition, buying GIF Messenger "Relay". The funding was from Valiant Capital Partners, Millennium Technology Value Partners, and SV Angel. By this time, Kik had raised a total of $70.5 million.Russell, Jon November 19, 2014 TechCrunch. [https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/19/chat-app-kik-raises-38m-and-makes-its-first-acquisition-buying-gif-messenger-relay/ "Chat App Kik Raises $38M And Makes Its First Acquisition, Buying GIF Messenger Relay"]

On August 16, 2015, Kik received a $50 million investment from Chinese Internet giant Tencent, the parent company of the popular Chinese messaging service WeChat. The investment earned the company a billion dollar valuation.{{cite news |last1=George-Cosh|first1=David| last2=MacMillan |first2=Douglas | title=Tencent Invests $50 Million in Messaging App Kik|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tencent-invests-50-million-in-messaging-app-kik-interactive-1439928079|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url-access=subscription | access-date=2015-08-19}} Company CEO Ted Livingston stated Kik's aspirations to become "the WeChat of the West" and said that attracting younger users was an important part of the company's strategy.{{cite news |last1=de la Merced |first1=Michael J. |date=2015-08-18 |title=Dealbook: Kik Raises $50 Million From Tencent, in Bid to Become 'WeChat of the West' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/business/dealbook/kik-raises-50-million-from-tencent-in-bid-to-become-wechat-of-the-west.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York City |access-date=2016-02-13 }}

In March 2016, the arrest of registered sex offender Thomas Paul Keeler II uncovered more than 200 Kik groups dedicated to the distribution and sale of child pornography on the site.{{cite web|last1=Brewster|first1=Thomas|title=This $1 Billion App Can't 'Kik' Its Huge Child Exploitation Problem|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2017/08/03/kik-has-a-massive-child-abuse-problem/?sh=52862c6e1a14|website=Forbes|access-date=21 June 2022}} In September 2016, CBS News published a story on the murder of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell, highlighting how easy it was to track and abuse children on Kik and calling it a "predator's paradise".{{cite web|last1=Yager|first1=Josh|title=Killer App|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicole-lovell-murder-smartphone-predator-stranger-danger-killer-app/|website=CBS|date=3 June 2017 |access-date=21 June 2022}} Kik released a public statement through CBS on June 3, 2017 stating, "We take online safety very seriously, and we're constantly assessing and improving our trust and safety measures. Nicole Lovell suffered a terrible tragedy and our sincere condolences continue to go out to her family. Since the time of the incident, Kik has taken a variety of proactive measures to help increase safety on our platform."{{cite web|author=Kik, Inc|title=Kik statement to "48 Hours"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kik-app-statement-to-48-hours-may-2017/|website=CBS|date=3 June 2017 |access-date=21 June 2022}} In an online investigation in August 2017, Forbes staffers signed up for the service posing as 14-year-old girls and encountered 20 profiles of charged or sentenced pedophiles.{{cite web|last1=Brewster|first1=Thomas|title=Kik Messenger Promised To Remove Child Predators -- I Just Found 10 In 2 Hours|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2017/09/20/kik-slow-to-delete-child-abuse-profiles-despite-promise/?sh=7a064b78dda8|website=Forbes|access-date=21 June 2022}} In November 2017, Kik Messenger was removed from the Windows Store. As of 23 January 2018, neither the developers nor Microsoft have provided a statement or an explanation on the removal of the app.{{cite web|last1=Surur|title=Kik says goodbye to Windows Phone|url=https://mspoweruser.com/kik-says-goodbye-to-windows-phone/|website=MSPoweruser|date=7 December 2017|access-date=23 January 2018}} In January 2018, Kik updated its Terms of Service and Community Standards to "make Kik a more respectful and fun place". The site also introduced a moderation and trust and safety team to enforce the new community standards.{{cite web|author=Kik, Inc|title=Updated community standards on Kik|url=https://www.kik.com/blog/updated-community-standards-on-kik/|website=Kik|access-date=21 June 2022}}

Also in 2017, Kik decided against more VC funding,{{cite web|last1=Roof|first1=Katie|title=Kik CEO explains why its doing an ICO instead of venture fundraising|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/20/kik-ceo-claims-an-ico-is-better-than-venture-fundraising/|website=Tech Crunch|date=20 June 2017 |access-date=15 November 2017}} instead raising nearly $100 million in a high-profile initial coin offering (ICO){{cite web|last1=Russell|first1=Jon|title=Kik raises nearly $100M in highest profile ICO to date|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/26/kik-ico-100-million/|website=Tech Cruch|date=27 September 2017 |access-date=15 November 2017}} on the Ethereum blockchain. In this crowd sale, they sold "Kin" digital tokens to the contributors.

In July 2018, the Kin Foundation released the Kinit beta app on the Google Play store, restricted to US residents only.{{cite web |last1=Biggs |first1=John |title=Kik launches beta product after $100 million ICO |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/18/kik-launches-beta-product-after-100-million-ico/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=July 21, 2018 |date=July 18, 2018}} It offers different ways of earning and spending the Kin coin natively; for example, a user can do simple surveys to earn Kin and spend it on digital goods like gift cards.

In September 2019, Kik's CEO and founder Ted Livingston, announced in a blog post that Kik Messenger would be shut down on 19 October 2019, with over 100 employees laid off.{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@tedlivingston/moving-forward-boldly-with-kin-ec6290a6453|title=Moving Forward Boldly with Kin|last=Livingston|first=Ted|date=September 23, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924000115/https://medium.com/@tedlivingston/moving-forward-boldly-with-kin-ec6290a6453|archive-date=September 24, 2019|access-date=March 16, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fighting-sec-over-cryptocurrency-kik-shuts-chat-app-11569318125|title=Fighting SEC Over Cryptocurrency, Kik Shuts Chat App|last=Russolillo|first=Steven|date=2019-09-24|website=WSJ|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49809449|title=Kik Messenger app to shut down|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2019|publisher=BBC|language=en-GB}} However this decision was later reversed{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/13/kik-says-its-here-to-stay-following-shutdown-reports/|title=Kik says it's 'here to stay,' following shutdown reports|website=TechCrunch|date=13 October 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-13}} and in October 2019, Medialab acquired Kik Messenger.{{cite web |last1=Liao |first1=Shannon |title=Kik app won't shut down after acquisition by MediaLab |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/19/tech/kik-messenger-saved/index.html |website=CNN Business |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=19 October 2019}}

A main attraction of Kik that differentiates it from other messaging apps is its anonymity. To register for the Kik service, a user must enter a first and last name, e-mail address, and birth date (which must show that the user is at least 13 years old{{cite web |url=http://blog.kik.com/2016/02/04/kiks-safety-guide-for-parents/ |title=Kik's Safety Guide for Parents |date=2016-02-04 |website=kik.com |publisher=Kik Interactive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213194432/http://blog.kik.com/2016/02/04/kiks-safety-guide-for-parents/ |archive-date=2016-02-13 |access-date=2016-02-13 |quote=If the birthday entered is for someone younger than 13, the account won’t be registered.}}), and select a username. The Kik registration process does not request or require the entry of a phone number (although the user has the option to enter one), unlike some other messaging services that require a user to provide a functioning mobile phone number.

The New York Times has reported that, according to law enforcement, Kik's anonymity features go beyond those of most widely used apps.{{cite news |last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |last2=Pérez-Peña |first2=Richard | date=2016-02-05 |title=Wildly Popular App Kik Offers Teenagers, and Predators, Anonymity |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/us/social-media-apps-anonymous-kik-crime.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2016-02-13 }} As of February 2016, Kik's guide for law enforcement said that the company cannot locate user accounts based on first and last name, e-mail address and/or birth date; the exact username is required to locate a particular account. The guide further said that the company does not have access to content or "historical user data" such as photographs, videos, and the text of conversations, and that photographs and videos are automatically deleted shortly after they are sent. A limited amount of data from a particular account (identified by exact username), including first and last name, birthdate, e-mail address, link to a current profile picture, device-related information, and user location information such as the most recently used IP address, can be preserved for a period of 90 days pending receipt of a valid order from law enforcement. Kik's anonymity has also been cited as a protective safety measure for good faith users, in that "users have screennames; the app doesn't share phone numbers or email addresses."{{cite web |author= | date=2014-05-20 |url=http://www.connectsafely.org/kik-messengers-smart-new-safety-features/ |title=Kik Messenger's Smart New Safety Features |publisher=ConnectSafely.org | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520010107/http://www.connectsafely.org/kik-messengers-smart-new-safety-features |archive-date=2015-05-20 | access-date=2016-02-13 }}

Kik introduced several new user features in 2015, including a full-screen in-chat browser that allows users to find and share content from the web;{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/14/kik-full-browser/#.hbxhvu:qsVF/ |title=Kik Introduces An In-Chat Browser For Its Mobile Messaging App|date=14 April 2015 |publisher=TechCrunch}} a feature allowing users to send previously recorded videos in Kik Messenger; and "Kik Codes", which assigns each user a unique code similar to a QR code, making it easier to connect and chat with other users.{{Cite web|title = Kik Codes launch on Kik Messenger, making it easier to connect with people {{!}} TruTower|url = http://www.trutower.com/2015/09/08/kik-codes-available-ios-android-39248/|website = TruTower|date = 8 September 2015|access-date = 2015-12-17|language = en-us}} Kik joined the Virtual Global Taskforce, a global anti-child-abuse organization, in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/kik-adds-tools-to-prevent-child-exploitation-on-messaging-app|title=Kik Adds Tools to Prevent Child Exploitation on Messaging App|date=March 10, 2015|author=Sarah Frier|publisher=Bloomberg}} Kik began using Microsoft's PhotoDNA in March 2015 to premoderate images added by users. That same month, Kik released native video capture allowing users to record up to 15 seconds in the chat window.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/04/kik-native-video-capture/|title=Chat App Kik Adds Native Video In Step Towards More Interactive Content|author=Jon Russell|date=March 4, 2015|publisher=Tech Crunch}} In October 2015, Kik partnered with the Ad Council as part of an anti-bullying campaign. The campaign was featured on the app and Kik released stickers in collaboration with the campaign.{{cite magazine|url=http://digiday.com/brands/adobe-gsp-ad-council-introduce-eye-emoji-new-anti-bullying-campaign/|title=Adobe, GS&P and Ad Council introduce eye emoji for new anti-bullying campaign|author=Tanya Dua|date=October 22, 2015|magazine=Digiday}} Kik released a feature to send GIFs as emojis in November 2015.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/11/16/chat-app-kiks-newest-feature-makes-sending-gifs-as-easy-as-emoji/|title=Chat App Kik's Newest Feature Makes Sending GIFs As Easy As Emoji|date=November 16, 2015|author=Jon Russell|publisher=Tech Crunch}} Kik added SafePhoto to its safety features in October 2016 which "detects, reports, and deletes known child exploitation images" sent through the platform. Kik partnered with ConnectSafely in 2016 to produce a "parents handbook" and joined The Technology Coalition, an anti-sexual exploitation group including Facebook, Google, Twitter and LinkedIn.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/13/kik-steps-up-efforts-to-keep-teen-users-safe/|title=Kik steps up efforts to keep teen users safe|author=Khari Johnson|date=October 13, 2016|publisher=Venture Beat}}

Kik added promoted chats in 2014, which used bots to converse with users about promoted brands through keywords activating responses. The feature allows companies to communicate with more potential clients than would be possible manually.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/06/kik-introduces-promoted-chats-to-let-brands-on-its-messaging-app-and-finally-make-money/|title=Kik Introduces Promoted Chats To Let Brands On Its Messaging App And Finally Make Money|date=November 6, 2014|author=Jon Russell|publisher=Tech Crunch}} Promoted messages reach target audiences by gender, country and device.{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/kik-looks-advantage-over-snapchat-new-ad-targeting-capabilities-163293|title=Can Kik Beat Snapchat With New Targeting Capabilities for Brands?|date=March 5, 2015|publisher=Ad Week}} In April 2016, Kik added a bot store to its app, which allows users to order food or products through an automated chat.{{cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2016/4/5/11585866/kik-bot-store-preview-for-facebook-messeger|title=Kik Messenger launched a bot store one week before Facebook is expected to launch a bot store|author=Kurt Wagner|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Recode}}{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2016/04/05/kik-a-bot-shop/|title=Kik Launches a 'Bot Shop' Because Bot Shops Are the New App Stores|author=Erin Griffith|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Fortune}} Third-party companies release bots which will access the company's offerings.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/kik-gets-bots-2016-4|title=A messaging app loved by teens just beat Facebook to one of its major announcements|author=Biz Carson|date=April 5, 2016|website=Business Insider}} The bot shop added a web bubble (also known as "wubbles") feature to allow rich media content to be shared in conversation threads, as well as suggested responses and a feature allowing bots to be active in group threads.{{cite web|url=http://marketingland.com/kik-bot-shop-171621|title=Kik opens Bot Shop to encourage more fun and engaging chat|author=Tamar Weinberg|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Marketing Land}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/04/05/kik-launches-a-bot-shop-for-its-messaging-platform/|title=Kik launches a Bot Shop for its messaging platform|author=Ken Yeung|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Venture Beat}} An update, released in September 2016, added concierge bots which can give users tips, tutorials, or recommendations within a specific brand.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/kik-adds-functionality-to-chatbots-2016-9|title=Kik continues to push the envelope with launch of new chatbot feature|date=September 30, 2014|website=Business Insider}}

On November 4, 2014, Kik scored 1 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard. Kik received a point for encryption during transit but lost points because communications are not encrypted with a key to which the provider does not have access, users cannot verify contacts' identities, past messages are not secure if the encryption keys are stolen, the code is not open to independent review, the security design is not properly documented, and there had not been a recent independent security audit.{{cite web |url=https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |title=Secure Messaging Scorecard. Which apps and tools actually keep your messages safe? |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=June 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115054343/https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471658,00.asp |work=PC Magazine |title=Only 6 Messaging Apps Are Truly Secure |date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2015}}

On October 1, 2014, Sony Music and Kik Interactive were given a Smarties award by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) for their global music marketing campaign with One Direction.{{ cite web | url=http://www.mmaglobal.com/events/the-smarties/2014/overview | title= Smarties: Congratulations To Our Winners | date=2014-10-01 | publisher=Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) | access-date=2016-02-12}} In October 2016, company CEO Ted Livingston was recognized as Toronto's most brilliant tech innovator by Toronto Life for his work with Kik.{{cite magazine | url = http://torontolife.com/city/business/titans-of-tech-toronto-waterloo-innovators/ | title = Toronto's 20 most brilliant tech innovators | author = Luc Rinaldi | date = October 6, 2016 | magazine = Toronto Life | access-date = March 12, 2017}} Livingston was also recognized for being one of the "Most Creative People in Business" on Fast Company{{'}}s 2017 list.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.fastcompany.com/3067011/be-inspired-by-these-creative-leaders-who-are-changing-the-world | title = Be Inspired By These Creative Leaders Who Are Changing The World | author = Rose Pastore | date = January 24, 2017 | magazine = Fast Company | access-date = March 12, 2017}}

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.{{cite web|author=Steven Raeburn|title=Kik social media platform draws police warning|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/12/02/kik-social-media-platform-draws-police-warning|work=The Drum}}{{cite web|first=Harve|last=Jacobs|date=December 5, 2013|title=Live 5 Investigates: Predators using Kik messenger phone app|website=WLOX.com|url=http://www.wlox.com/story/24146731/live-5-investigates-predators-using-kik-messenger-to-lure-kids|access-date=February 11, 2015|archive-date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211143813/http://www.wlox.com/story/24146731/live-5-investigates-predators-using-kik-messenger-to-lure-kids|url-status=dead}} Automated spam bots have also been used to distribute explicit images and text over Kik Messenger.{{cite web|first=Julia|last=Wong|date=February 7, 2014|title=Students, parents warned about explicit spam messages on Kik Messenger|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1135647/students-parents-warned-about-explicit-spam-messages-on-kik-messenger/|work=Global News}}{{cite web|date=March 5, 2014|title=Albertans complain Kik messenger spam bot sending sexual messages|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/albertans-complain-kik-messenger-spam-bot-sending-sexual-messages-1.2561695|work=cbc.ca}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45568276|title=Kik chat app 'involved in 1,100 child abuse cases'|website=BBC|date=21 September 2018}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Kik Help Center|url=https://medialabai.force.com/KikHelpCenter/s/article/Law-Enforcement-Guide|access-date=2021-07-13|website=medialabai.force.com|archive-date=2021-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713022347/https://medialabai.force.com/KikHelpCenter/s/article/Law-Enforcement-Guide|url-status=dead}}

Prior to 2015, Kik Interactive addressed this issue by informing parents and police about their options to combat child exploitation. In March 2015, the company adopted a more aggressive strategy by utilizing Microsoft's PhotoDNA cloud service to automatically detect, delete, and report the distribution of child exploitation images on its app.{{cite news|last=Frier|first=Sarah|date=2015-03-10|title=Kik Adds Tools to Prevent Child Exploitation on Messaging App|website=Bloomberg.com|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/kik-adds-tools-to-prevent-child-exploitation-on-messaging-app|url-status=live|access-date=2016-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216211111/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/kik-adds-tools-to-prevent-child-exploitation-on-messaging-app|archive-date=2016-02-16}} Some experts have noted that because PhotoDNA operates by comparing images against an existing database of exploitative images, it does not effectively prevent "realtime" online child abuse and may not detect material not yet added to its comparison database.{{cite web|author=|date=2014-03-09|title=Dynamic Coalition on Child Online Safety: Disrupting and Reducing the Availability of Child Sex Abuse on the Internet (panel discussion transcript)|url=http://friendsoftheigf.org/transcript/554|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213193148/http://friendsoftheigf.org/transcript/554|archive-date=2016-02-13|access-date=2016-02-13|website=friendsoftheigf.org|publisher=Friends of the Internet Governance Forum}} Kik Interactive also began collaborating internationally with law enforcement by joining the Virtual Global Taskforce, a partnership between businesses, child protection agencies, and international police services that combats online child exploitation and abuse. The company also sponsors an annual conference on crimes against children.

Kik has been criticized for providing inadequate parental control over minors' use of the app. The ability to share messages without alerting parents has been noted as "one of the reasons why teens like Kik". Parents cannot automatically view their child's Kik communications remotely from another device, but instead must have the password to their child's user account and view the communications on the same device used by their child.{{cite news|last=Hughes |first=Trevor |date=2016-02-05 |title=Kik messaging app scrutinized in wake of Va. teen's murder |url=http://www.13newsnow.com/story/features/2016/02/05/kik-messaging-app-scrutinized-in-wake-of-murder/79897414/ |publisher=WVEC-TV (Channel 13, ABC) |agency=USA Today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217034637/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/features/2016/02/05/kik-messaging-app-scrutinized-in-wake-of-murder/79897414/ |archive-date=2016-02-17 |access-date=2016-02-13 }} As of February 2016, Kik's parents' guide stresses that teens between 13 and 18 should have a parent's permission to use Kik,{{cite news |author=|date=2016-02-03 |title=Kik Messenger App Scrutinized Following 13-Year-Old's Death |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kik-messenger-app-scrutinized-following-13-year-olds-death/ |publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205093449/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kik-messenger-app-scrutinized-following-13-year-olds-death/ |archive-date=2016-02-05 |access-date=2016-02-12 }} but there is no technical way to enforce the requirement or to guarantee that a minor will not enter a false birthdate. Kik Interactive has said that it uses "typical" industry standards for age verification, that "perfect age verification" is "not plausible", and that the company deletes accounts of users under 13 when it finds them, or when a parent requests the deletion.

{{Main article|npm left-pad incident}}

In March 2016, Kik Interactive was involved in a high-profile dispute over use of the name kik with independent code developer Azer Koçulu, the author of numerous open-source software modules published on npm, a package manager widely used by JavaScript projects to install dependencies. Koçulu had published an extension to Node.js on npm under the name kik. Kik Interactive contacted him objecting to his use of the name, for which the company claimed intellectual property rights, and asked him to change the name. When Koçulu refused, Kik Interactive contacted npm management, who agreed to transfer ownership of the module to Kik without Koçulu's consent. Koçulu then unpublished all of his modules from npm, including a popular eleven-line code module called left-pad upon which many JavaScript projects depended.{{cite web |first=Keith|last=Collins |title=How one programmer broke the internet by deleting a tiny piece of code |url=https://qz.com/646467/how-one-programmer-broke-the-internet-by-deleting-a-tiny-piece-of-code |website=Quartz |access-date=30 October 2022 |date=March 27, 2016}} Although Koçulu subsequently published left-pad on GitHub, its sudden removal from npm caused many projects (including Kik itself) to stop working, due to their dependency on the Node and Babel packages.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Chris |date=March 23, 2016|title=How One Developer Just Broke Node, Babel and Thousands of Projects in 11 Lines of JavaScript: Code Pulled From NPM – Which Everyone Was Using |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/23/npm_left_pad_chaos/ |website=The Register |access-date=March 24, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324055738/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/23/npm_left_pad_chaos/ |archive-date=2016-03-24 }} In view of widespread software disruption, npm restored Koçulu's left-pad and made Cameron Westland of Autodesk its maintainer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npmjs.com/~westlac|title=@westlac|website=www.npmjs.com|access-date=March 24, 2016}} The incident sparked controversies over the assertion of intellectual property rights and the use of dependencies in software development.{{cite web |last=Weinberger |first=Matt |date=March 23, 2016|title=One Angry Programmer Almost Broke the Internet by Deleting 11 Lines of Code |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/npm-left-pad-controversy-explained-2016-3 |website=Business Insider |access-date=March 24, 2016|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324130546/http://www.businessinsider.com/npm-left-pad-controversy-explained-2016-3 |archive-date=March 24, 2016}}

Kin is an ERC-20 cryptocurrency token issued on the public Ethereum blockchain. Kin was first announced in early 2017{{cite news|last1=Brownell|first1=Claire|title=Messenger app Kik is betting on its own cryptocurrency to upend the online business model|url=http://business.financialpost.com/technology/messenger-app-kik-betting-on-its-own-cryptocurrency-to-upend-the-online-business-model|access-date=16 January 2018|work=Financial Post|date=16 June 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Hackett|first1=Robert|title=Chat App Kik to Mint Own Cryptocurrency|url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/25/chat-app-kik-ethereum-token/|access-date=12 January 2018|work=Fortune|date=25 May 2017}} which marked a pivot in Kik's strategy, a response to difficulties faced from competing with larger social networks such as Facebook.{{cite news|last1=Vigna|first1=Paul|title=Messaging-App Kik's Big Bet on a Digital Coin Offering|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/messaging-app-kiks-big-bet-on-a-digital-coin-offering-1504041396|access-date=16 January 2018|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=29 August 2017}} Kin was launched in September 2017 with an initial coin offering (ICO) raising $98 million from 10,000 participants.{{cite news|last1=Chavez-Dreyfuss|first1=Gertrude|title=Kik's $100 million in proceeds from token sale below expectations|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kik-blockchain-offering/kiks-100-million-in-proceeds-from-token-sale-below-expectations-idUSKCN1C12XX|access-date=12 January 2018 |publisher=Reuters|date=26 September 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Russell|first1=Jon|title=Kik raises nearly $100M in highest profile ICO to date|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/26/kik-ico-100-million/|access-date=12 January 2018|publisher=TechCrunch |date=26 September 2017}} The purpose of the token is to facilitate value transfers in digital services such as gaming applications and social media, and was initially launched on Kik Messenger to leverage the application's 15 million monthly active users.{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Eric|title=Why a messaging start-up is making its own digital currency instead of going public|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/11/kik-looks-to-cryptocurrency-instead-of-an-ipo-commentary.html|access-date=16 January 2018|publisher=CNBC|date=11 July 2017}}

As of 2019, the enforcement division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission considers the cryptocurrency offering to have been an unregulated security issue and is expected to begin legal action against the company. Kik has challenged the SEC's ability to regulate cryptocurrencies.{{cite news |last1=Vigna |first1=Paul |last2=Michaels |first2=Dave |title=Are ICO Tokens Securities? Startup Wants a Judge to Decide |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-ico-tokens-securities-startup-wants-a-judge-to-decide-11548604800 |access-date=29 January 2019 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=29 January 2019}}

On September 7, 2017, only days before the Kin ICO, Kik announced that Canadian citizens would be barred from participating, citing weak guidance from the Ontario Securities Commission for the decision.{{cite news|last1=De Vynck|first1=Gerrit|title=Kik Blames Canadian Regulators for Skipping Country in ICO|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-07/kik-blames-canadian-regulators-for-skipping-country-in-ico|access-date=16 January 2018 |publisher=Bloomberg|date=8 September 2017}}

By 2019 the value of Kin had fallen by 99%.

• Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website}}

{{Instant messaging}}

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Category:Companies based in Waterloo, Ontario

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