Is KiK Safe for Kids? Guide for Parents.

Kik has become one of the most used applications for children between 13 and 24 years of age. It is used for anonymous chats,  live streaming; hence, it’s common for parents to wonder, “Is Kik Safe for kids” and whether or not I should spy on text messages? In this article, we will discuss Kik and its features and how you can ensure your child’s safety on Kik and similar applications.

What is KiK?

Kik is a messaging application that allows you to send and receive messages from strangers anonymously. This application has several features, including group chats, Kik Codes, Live streaming, and more.

It is a free-to-download application available on all kinds of operating systems, including Android, iPhone, and Windows-supported phones. Anyone above the age of 13 can easily make an account on Kik, which is one reason why parents are concerned about its usage.

Why Parents Should Be Concerned?

Even though KiK is a PlayStore-approved application, here are some reasons why it raises concerns among parents.

No Age verification

As there are no strict parameters to verify the age of users, the kids may be exposed to sex offenders on the website. Plus, they can manipulate the children to nudity and pornographic content and cyberbullying in the worst cases.

No content filter

Unlike many other applications, Kik does not allow for content filtering. Hence, it is easier for users to be tempted to view content that is otherwise regarded as “age-restricted.”

No Parental Control

This application has no strict restrictions, which means you can’t directly restrict your children’s content. Though you may try tweaking some settings on KiK, the potential dangers are still very high.

How to Monitor a Child’s Kik Account?

So, is Kik safe to use? In a word-no. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it. With the help of some reliable monitoring apps, you can monitor your kid’s KiK account and see their activity online.

Let’s talk about the Parentaler application in detail.

What is Parentaler?

It is a comprehensive parent monitoring application that allows parents to anonymously keep any on their kid’s phone. With Parentaler, you can view the type of content they are watching and know whom they talk to the most in real time. As you have a clear idea of your child’s online activities, you can easily plan your next course of action accordingly. Here are some key features of Parentaler:

● Social media tracking

Since you can see all the activities on the target phone, you get access to all their social media applications, including Snapchat, Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook, and much more. Moreover, dating applications like Tinder can also be monitored using Parentaler.

● GPS tracking

When your kids are outgoing, they might end up in the wrong neighborhood. Parentaler allows you to track their location on GPS in real-time. It also allows you to set geofencing alerts and send remote alerts on their phones, ensuring their safety.

● Website/App blocking

If you find your children browsing age-restricted content or accessing malicious websites, you can simply block their websites. This feature works with applications, too. In a few steps, you can block games or apps from the Apple Store and the Play Store.

● Call tracking

Parentaler provides you insights into their call logs and SMS. Plus, it provides a feature to look at their emails and find out their email history along with the right time stamps and

How to Make Sure Your Child Is Safe

Amidst the unsafe online environment, here are some things you can do to ensure your child’s safety.

● Talk to your children about the dangers associated with accessing malicious websites.

● Dictate them on how to avoid providing personal or sensitive information.

● Teach them about the local cyber laws and their consequences.

● Set phone usage agreements with kids to ensure strict adherence to the rules.

● Ensure your child knows their full name, address, and phone number, as well as how to contact you or reach out to another trusted adult in an emergency.

● Show your children how to browse the internet safely.

Conclusion

We hope your query “Is Kik secure?” has been resolved. Even though the application is not up to par with parental controls, you can control it to some extent. With appropriate applications like Parentaler, you can monitor your child’s phone and ensure they are not browsing malicious websites.

However, to ensure online safety, parents should always take the initiative to talk to their children about the dangers of cyberbullying and pornographic content. Further, they should frame a clear set of phone or internet usage rules and monitor whether family members adhere to them.