Instant messaging apps like Kik are becoming popular for teens and young adults. Since communication is one of the most important activities that people do on a daily basis, aren’t you curious about why people choose Kik? To quench your curiosity we did a review to answer most of the things you might ask about this messaging app. Are you ready?
Basically, Kik is an instant messaging service or application that you can utilize on both iPhone and Android device. It is a free popular app similar to WhatsApp and Viber but it is equipped with extra functions that make a huge difference. This includes an internal browser that encourages a user to spend a long time using the application.
Why People Use Kik?
Kik app is a sleek substitute for traditional SMS messaging since it helps users to avoid paying unnecessary charges. Moreover, SMS text often has a limit which is a little bit of a hassle especially for teens and young adults who want to have constant chatting with their friends.
However, using Kik requires you to connect to the internet or use your data plan. But since it allows unlimited messaging and it’s free, most people consider Kik as a great app. Aside from that, it offers more functions than just texting. Since online chatting is becoming highly visual year-after-year Kik also allows sending friends with videos, photos, GIFs, and don’t forget the emoji.
For more than just two years of release way back in 2010, the app became one of the best chat platforms. As a matter of fact, it grew into one of the most popular messaging apps with more than 4 Million users they call as “Kicksters”. After four years, it is the year 2016 when Kik attracts more than 300 Million users around the world.
Kik Features
To showcase the same functionality of mobile handset SMS text messaging is the main design of Kik. The difference is, it does not require phone numbers and it works with usernames and user profiles instead. Moreover, here are some of the main features of Kik that you can expect.
Invite Friends
Kik makes it easier for you to locate your friends on their platform. The moment you sign up, you will be able to invite friends through SMS text, social networks, and through email as long as you they have a saved number on your contact.
Live typing
Kik allows you to see whenever the person you are communicating with is typing. This allows you to know whether or not the person you are talking to is active online or if your message is being entertained. Like so, it will also enable you to know if you should expect to receive a message or not.
Kik Notifications
Similar to FB messager, Kik allows you to receive a particular notification showing that your message is delivered or sent. In the same manner, it provides notification when you receive a message. Kik also allows you to modify the sound of your notification as well as select if you want to receive them automatically when a new chat friend delivers you a message.
Kik Code Scanning
Every user has their own unique code. They can access it from their app settings located on the top left side of chat tabs. In order to add a Kik user using their code, just hit the search icon and then click Find People. Select Scan a Kik Code, then allow Kik to access your camera in order to proceed to scan the code. While there is a manual way to add a friend on Kik, code scanning is apparently a fast way to connect.
Bot Shop
If you want to get a little more active on Kik, you can use their chatbots and have fun. Kik has Bot Shop where you can interact with chatbots to get fashion tips, complete fun quizzes, receive advice, read the news, and so much more.
Multimedia Message Sending
Not only that Kik offers text messaging with no limitations but with multimedia message sending too. With Kik, you can now enjoy sending GIFs, photos, sketches, videos, emoji, and among others. This will surely allow you to communicate better with your friends.
Profile Integration
Organize and customize your profile by integrating a profile picture and contact info on your account and username. This way, you’ll friends can easily know you are the right person.
Video Chat
There is no better way of communicating than seeing your friends face to face. This is one of the reasons why Millions of people are utilizing Kik. It provides the ability to have a video chat with friends in real-time which is quite similar to Skype, Facetime, FB messenger, as well as other video chat applications.
Promoted Chats
Tapping the search icon where you can find people to add will allow you to see the Promoted Chats icon. Click it to view interesting chats and select people you want to start communicating with.
Group Chats
Add users to your group by tapping the search icon and then click the Start a Group label. With this, you will be able to create your customized group chat.
Chat Lists
Many smartphone SMS text apps integrate Chat Lists. This also includes Kik where you can easily select a particular chat thread. After tapping, it will open the thread and you can start chatting.
How To Use Kik? For Beginners
The first thing you need to do is to download the free Kik mobile app. You can find it in AppStore for iPhone users and Google Play for Android. Afterward, install the app and it will instantly prompt a question asking you if you want to create a new account or use an existing to sign in. You only need to enter some of your basic information such as email address, username, and password.
Moreover, you can include optional info as well such as profile picture and phone number. You can always skip this part if you want. The main disadvantage of using Kik is it requires internet connection either with WiFi or data connection. But since most areas have a connection, I don’t think it is still considered a drawback.
On the other hand, your friends will not be able to reach you without a Kik account. For this reason, if you want to totally enjoy the app, you also have to inform your friends about it and have them create their profiles. I believe this is one of the reasons why Kik’s user base grew incredibly huge in just a few years.
Why is it called Kik?
There is always a reason behind a name. For instance, Kik utilizes letters to show the status of your messages. When it sends “S” this means your message is delivered to Kik servers. On the other hand, it sends “R” when the person opened your message. However, it does not show that the person totally read your message but it is still a great way to inform you your message is acknowledged.
Like so, a faded letter “D” shows that the app delivers a notification to your friend. The moment it appears solidly, it means the person is active in Kik but you still have to wait for an “R” to know they have read your message. To easily remember all the indicators, S means sent, R means Read, and D means delivered.
Furthermore, a red exclamation mark lets you know if there’s an error. If this happens, you just need to resend the message. An ellipsis shows that the app is trying to connect to the network. Apparently, this equals the loading mechanism of most applications and services.
Is it Safe to Use?
Parents will definitely ask this question, especially that their child’s safety is the one at stake. So, the question is how to determine if your child is safe to use this app?
Unfortunately, Kik is just as dangerous with a most social media platform and instant messaging apps and services. However, it provides handy security functions such as blocking in order to keep young adults and teens safe against online predators. Parents have to show the way on how to block users in Kik so they can do it on their own. To do this, click the name of the chat then select the vertical ellipsis to the right where you can select the blocking option.
Final Verdict
To sum it up, Kik is a great online instant messaging application or service that offers a solid chat experience among other chat platforms available today. Not only that you can enjoy unlimited text messaging but it also provides a wide array of options to make communication better for you and your friends. You can send memes, graphics, videos, and photos to your chats. It is also a free application that you can use in both Android and iPhone devices.
Meanwhile, even the best and most popular instant messaging application also has a disadvantage. For Kik, it does not allow sending location in messages. Like so, you are not allowed to turn off “R” or read status.
