Kik Messenger (or just Kik) is a popular messaging app available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and other mobile devices. With over 300 million registered users, Kik allows people to connect with friends and others via text, photos, videos, sketches, memes, and more.
While Kik can be a fun way to stay in touch, you may sometimes encounter users that are abusive, send unwanted messages, or are otherwise inappropriate. Fortunately, Kik provides simple tools to block, unblock or report troublesome users right from within the app.
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Blocking Users on Kik
Blocking someone on Kik prevents them from sending you further messages unless you choose to unblock them later. Their past messages will also no longer be visible in your chat history.
To block a user on Kik:
- Open a chat with the user you want to block
- Tap their profile icon at the top of the chat screen
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right
- Select “Block [username]”
Alternatively, you can block users via the Privacy section:
- Tap your profile icon in the top left
- Select “Privacy”
- Choose “Block list”
- Tap the plus icon to add a user to block
Once blocked, that user’s icon will appear grayed out in your Block list. They will be unable to send you further messages unless you choose to unblock them.
Unblocking Users on Kik
If you change your mind after blocking someone on Kik, you can easily unblock them to resume messaging. Just:
- Go to your Block list under Privacy
- Tap the user you want to unblock
- Select “Unblock”
After unblocking a user, their chat history will reappear and they’ll once again be able to send you Kik messages.
Reporting Users or Messages on Kik
If another Kik user is harassing you, sending inappropriate content or otherwise breaking Kik’s rules, you can report them right from the app.
To report an abusive or spam user:
- Open a chat window with that user
- Tap their profile picture
- Choose “Report [username]”
- Select a reason for reporting such as “This person is being abusive”
- Tap “Report”
You can also report an entire Kik group if needed through similar steps.
Reporting users helps Kik identify and take action against those violating policies. While Kik keeps reports anonymous, submitting details like offensive messages can assist investigations.
Kik also partners with law enforcement on serious issues like child exploitation. If you encounter potentially illegal content, consider contacting authorities as well.
Tips for Staying Safe on Kik
While most Kik users are well-intentioned, it helps exercise some caution when chatting:
- Don’t share personal information with people you don’t know well. Information like your full name, address or school could be used to locate or impersonate you.
- Set your profile to private. This prevents strangers from finding you by username or seeing your profile picture.
- Ignore messages from unknown users. Don’t engage with random friend requests or chats – instead, block and report the user.
- Enable chat receipts. Receipts let you see if a user has read your message. If someone isn’t replying, they may have blocked you.
- Be wary of links or files sent by strangers. These could contain malware or attempt to reveal your location.
Staying alert to red flags can help you steer clear of dangerous situations on Kik. But if you ever feel threatened or unsafe, report the user and tell a trusted adult right away.
Conclusion
Kik offers a fun way to chat with friends across various devices. However, the anonymity users enjoy on Kik also allows the potential for harassment or abuse.
Fortunately, tools to block, report and ban troublesome users are readily available within the Kik app itself. Making use of these can help you manage interactions and stay safe. Exercising caution with personal information and chatting with unknown users can further help you control your experience.
With over a billion messages sent daily, Kik continues to connect people across the globe. Understanding how to protect yourself and use moderation features will allow you to join conversations securely. Stay alert, use good judgement and don’t hesitate to report any behavior making you uncomfortable – Kik’s safety team is available to help address issues.
