How to delete Kik account

Kik Messenger, also known just as Kik, is a free mobile messaging app for iOS and Android systems. You can use it to exchange private messages and share videos and photos with other users. It’s proven to be extremely popular with teenagers.

To use Kik you only need an email, birthdate, and username to login. That means other users see only minimum information about each other. The app also deletes messaging histories after some time. However, the app also has various privacy issues, including IP logging and a lack of end-to-end encryption.

There quite a few reasons to delete your Kik account:

• Exploitation and online threats. Child exploitation is a problem on any app that allows people to stay fairly anonymous. Kik and many other social media apps are no exception. Researchers also find it difficult to obtain data from the company to investigate these cases. The company has introduced stricter measures to tackle these threats, however.
• Lack of parental control. Teens can use Kik easily without their parents' intervention. While minors should have parents' permission to use the app, they can bypass this easily by entering a false birthdate.
• Poor privacy. Kik doesn't have end-to-end encryption, so the service providers can see all your messages if they wish to or give them away to a third-party. The company can also see your IP and find out your location. A lack of encryption also makes it easier for cybercriminals to intercept users' messages.
• Users cannot verify identities. Users can log into Kik without a valid email address or phone number, so it’s very hard to verify someone’s identity. This creates a lack of accountability and transparency among users and can lead to scams, exploitations, and cyberbullying.
• Lack of transparency. Kik is not really transparent as its code is not open for independent review. Its design is also not properly documented, and it didn't have independent audits.
• There are tons of safer messaging apps. For more, check our list of secure messaging apps.

To delete a Kik account permanently, you should:

1. Go to this page. Enter your credentials and the reason for leaving, and tick the box below.

2. Click Go!.

3. You will receive an email from Kik. Open it.

4. Tap Permanently Deactivate and follow the further instructions.

Your account will be permanently deleted. You will no longer receive notifications, and nobody will be able to see your username or profile in the app. You won’t be able to reactivate your account, so if you want to access the app again you’ll have to create a new profile. The same steps apply to both Android and iPhone systems.

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You've just learned how to delete your Kik account. Now let's see how to deactivate it. Deactivating Kik is a pretty straightforward procedure. Just enter your email here and follow the steps on screen.

So what is the difference between deactivation and deletion? When you deactivate Kik, you stop receiving all correspondence from the app, nobody will be able to find your username, and you won't appear in contact lists. However, your Kik account doesn't get permanently deleted and will reactivate if you sign in again.

If you no longer remember your email address, you won't be able to delete your account in the usual way. In this case, you could contact Kik support for further guidance.

If you wish to delete your child’s Kik account, you can contact the company and make a request. You can also submit a deactivation inquiry by sending a message to safety@kik.com with the subject line “Parent Inquiry.” In the message, you will have to specify the reason for deletion and list your child's Kik username and email. A Kik representative will get back to you shortly.

However, you will still need to know the username and email address your child used to create an account. You can find this information by logging into their Kik account and clicking the gear icon in the top-left corner. There you can see your child's display and user names.

You can also delete it via the before-mentioned Kik form. You just need to have access to the email account of your kid's Kik profile.

Also, keep in mind that you can't monitor your kids' Kik conversations from your device as Kik doesn't share chat content across devices.

If someone is harassing you on Kik, we advise you to do the following:

• Immediately report the harasser by sending a message to safety@kik.com. This will get you in touch with Kik's Safety Center that will handle your situation. You can also easily report a bully in the Kik app by following the user-blocking instructions given below. You just have to choose the Report User option instead of blocking;

• Terminate all communication with a harasser. By no means provide them any personal info or agree to meet them in person;
• Immediately inform your parents or guardians if you are underage;
• In more serious cases, inform the local cyber police.

We also advise you to block an annoying user. You can do it by:

1. Navigating to a chat you had with them;

2. Clicking on the username of your friend on the top of the chat;

3. Tapping the three vertical dots in the top right corner;

4. Clicking on the Block option and confirming your choice.

If you wish to unblock a user, just navigate to the Block List in Kik's privacy settings and unblock them by clicking on a specific username.

Kik deletes old messages automatically once you exceed the maximum number of them. But if you wish to delete your recent messages, you should:

1. Open the chat;

2. Select the message you wish to delete;

3. Long press on it and tap Delete.

If you wish to delete an entire conversation:

1. Click on the username of your friend on the top of the chat;

2. Tap Delete Chat.

Just keep in mind that this method deletes messages only on your side as Kik stores messages in its cloud, and it's not possible to delete them on both sides.

Here are some Kik alternatives worth considering:

1. JusTalk Kids

JusTalk Kids is an app for kids to make video calls and send messages. Parents can set a password for their kids and control their access. Moreover, the app doesn't allow strangers to contact kids on the app. Parents can also easily delete specific contacts at any time.

2. Fennec Messenger

Fennec Messenger is another option worth considering. Similarly to JusTalk, it prevents strangers from reaching out to your child. Also, it has an integrated phone locator to help you track a child's device in case of emergencies. There is also a handy time restriction feature, limiting the number of hours that can be spent on the app.

3. Stars Messenger

Stars Messenger is a cute-looking, user-friendly app for your kids. Again, no strangers can connect to your child on this service. You can also set up private groups and create a safer environment for your children.

If you still wish to use Kik, at least make yourself and your kids safer. As mentioned above, Kik doesn't have a very good privacy record. It doesn’t use end-to-end encryption, so service providers can monitor your conversations, while cybercriminals can intercept them. Your IP and geolocation are also visible to the company.

So VPN is your friend here. It will encrypt your traffic and no one will be able to intercept it. Moreover it will hide your original IP, so your location won’t be visible to anyone.