A Mainstream Contributor To Sexual Exploitation
Kik is Crawling With Criminals
The anonymous messaging app is a “predator’s paradise” for grooming kids and sharing images of their abuse, in addition to hardcore porn and prostitution ads.
Updated 6/22/2023: After being placed on the 2023 Dirty Dozen List, Kik appears to have implemented almost all of NCOSE’s recommended safety changes! Although no announcements were made by Kik and their policy page is inactive, NCOSE researchers recently checked the app and were shocked to see that:
- Kik is now an 18+ platform
- Users are required to provide a valid email address
- The explicit content filter is automatically turned on for all accounts
- Bots monitor live streams for nudity and inappropriate content
- There is now an option to block direct messages from strangers
NCOSE continues to closely monitor and test Kik’s system to see if these improvements will be meaningfully enforced.
Take Action
“Jenny” was a teenager on Kik.
And within hours of joining the free messaging platform, she was contacted by not one, not two, but dozens of adult men. Despite knowing she was a minor, they sent her pornography and graphic messages demanding she send nude images of herself. They added her to group messages that included sexually explicit content and even what appeared to be child sex abuse material (CSAM).
Thankfully, this “Jenny” was a fake account created by NCOSE researchers so no minor was harmed in this circumstance. However, countless real teenagers like “Jenny” are experiencing this same predatory environment.
It’s time for Kik to take action.
Review the proof we’ve collected, read our recommendations for improvement, and see our notification letter to Roblox for more details.
Our Requests for Improvement
- Use existing technology to proactively identify, block, and remove criminal or prohibited activity and content (such as child sex abuse material, image-based sexual abuse, and pornography) and permanently ban offending users
- Abolish features that place children at high risk for sexual exploitation, such as allowing users to add minors to group chats without their knowledge or consent, connecting minors with adults through the “Meet New People” feature, and pushing dating and prostitution apps to minors
- Develop and implement robust safety measures to protect minors and make your platform safer for all users, including adding age verification, requiring valid email addresses upon account creation, age-gating group chats, and easy-to-find reporting tools
- Create pin-protected parental controls
- Provide adequate warnings to users and the general public of Kik’s risks through transparency reports, accurate age ratings and app descriptions, and in-app education
Proof
Evidence of Exploitation
WARNING: Any pornographic images have been blurred, but are still suggestive. There may also be graphic text descriptions shown in these sections. POSSIBLE TRIGGER.
Child Sexual Abuse Material Posting and Trading
Note from researchers re: Kik. We spend a lot of time on multiple social media sites – usually posing as young teens. Kik is one of the worse platforms, with the most aggressive predatory behavior we have encountered. Our researchers were approached by adult men within minutes of joining the platform – and then subsequently throughout our research. Despite making it clear we “were” minors, predators persisted in engaging us in highly sexualized ways. Child sex abuse sharing is rampant and easily found. By law, we cannot seek out CSAM. Yet we came across it multiple times in public chats. We believe this platform needs to be shut down.
We also highly recommend viewing this video by a social media watchdog who very clearly outlines the multitude of crimes on Kik. Note, he uses strong language, but does blur image: The Horrors of Kik Messenger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sPaJxRmIPc
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According to a Thorn report published in early 2023, 26% of surveyed children ages 9 – 17 who use Kik have had a sexual encounter on the platform.i Even more concerningly, Kik tied with Instagram and Tumblr as the platform where minors reported the second highest rates of online sexual interactions with people they thought were adults. On all three of these platforms, 11% of minor users reported having an online sexual interaction with a perceived adult. The only platform with a higher rate than this was Omegle, at 22%.
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection data shows that one in three luring attempts reported to their cyber tipline happened on Kik, Instagram, or Snapchat (34%).
Kik’s design features exacerbate the dangers by allowing and encouraging users to connect with strangers. The app has a “Meet New People” feature, which pairs any user, including minors, with a complete stranger with whom to start conversations. Users of any age can join public chats, resulting in increased interactions between adults and minors. Groups are not age-gated. Even when the chat titles say “18+,” users of any age can place minors into “age-restricted group chats” without the minor’s knowledge or consent.
An anonymous user added “Jenny,” our fake profile for a seventeen-year-old girl, to multiple group chats without her knowledge or consent. With each addition she was inundated with private messages from older men either saying things like “let me see you baby girl,” instructing her how to send nudes without her parents finding out or sending her CSAM and sexualized images of minors.
“Jenny” was also added to multiple group chat requiring users to send pictures or videos of themselves or teenage girls under a time limit to remain in the group. Although she was underage, the group chats she was placed into were restricted for “18+.” Images of CSAM were sent and traded within these group chats (which we reported to NCMEC).
There was not one instance in which predatory behavior stopped after Jenny had revealed her age; rather, the behavior escalated.
Read more about this research by reviewing the PDF linked at the end of this segment. Warning: disturbing content.
Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM) Posting and Trading on Kik
Kik is also commonly used for the trading of child sexual abuse material (CSAM, the more apt term for “child pornography”). Kik repeatedly and frequently makes headlines for this crime. To highlight just a few of the most recent examples:
- Oswego County man allegedly promoted the sexual performance of a child on Kik app, (April 3, 2023).
- A mayor used a Kik account to upload and distribute dozens of CSAM images (March 2023)
- A 38-year-old Gainesville man was arrested 12 counts of the promotion of obscene material, after law enforcement was notified that he had uploaded “videos [that] contained prepubescent girls performing sexual acts, and in some instances showed adult men raping them.” This man had been using Kik to share CSAM and sexually exploit prepubescent girls for over two years. Kik has been unable to ensure predators cannot circumvent their account’s removal or commit ban evasions, allowing predatory behavior to continue unbridled. (March 2023)
- Court docs: Man seen near home of trafficked teen Kokomo Tribune (March 2023
- Lisle university student charged with using Kik to disseminate child pornography, Daily Herald (March 2023)
- 4 Southern California men face child sexual exploitation charges, Los Angeles Daily News (March 2023)
See our compiled evidence in this easy to view & download PDF
Grooming & Sexualization of Minors
Child sexual abuse, sexual grooming, and sexual exploitation are rampant on Kik. Users are able to promote their ability to request, buy, sell, and trade CSAM because of Kik’s lack of robust moderation practices and age-verification tools. Kik fosters an environment that encourages predatory adults to exploit and abuse children.
Kik also facilitates the sexualization of minors on its platform. NCOSE researchers were exposed to numerous incidents in which group members would post images of minors, encouraging others to make sexualizing and disturbing comments. Pictures of erect penises or genitals with ejaculate on them would often be posted after pictures of young girls.
This would occur in public groups as well as in private messages. In one instance, an adult man sent NCOSE researchers unsolicited images of fully clothed prepubescent children attached with sexualizing comments.
Read more about this research and see redacted proof by reviewing the PDF linked at the end of this segment. Warning: disturbing content.
See our compiled evidence in this easy to view & download PDF
Pornography &, Sexually Explicit Material
In February 2023, top-rated social media monitoring company Bark released its 2022 Annual Report earlier this year, which analyzed 4.5 billion messages across text, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and social media platforms. For the third year in a row, Kik was flagged as the number one platform for severe sexual content. Kik was also within the top five apps flagged for Depression, Body Image Concerns, Severe Bullying, and Hate Speech.
Even Kik’s suggested “age-appropriate” searches lead to harmful content. Based on ‘teen interests,’ Kik’s suggested terms yield countless group chats with thumbnails of nude genitalia, sexually explicit names, and misleading descriptions such as “Memes and Chill,” “No Butt Stuff 21+,” and “MemesHub 18+.” Under the hashtag #catmemes, the chat “Playful Kitten” appears; the thumbnail is a silhouette of a nude cat woman. Innocuous search terms that appeal to children, like #Pokemon, #local, #cool, #meme, #cheerleading and #Fun, lead to chatrooms dedicated to pornography, trading sexually explicit images/nudes, and other content that violates Kik’s policies. A search for “highschool” yielded an image of a man holding his penis in between a hot dog bun and putting mustard on it. “Local” immediately surfaced nude breasts and buttocks.
Despite sexually explicit imagery and pornography violating Kik’s policies, this content was found within almost every suggested group chat.
On paper, Kik’s policies do not allow pornography or inappropriate content to be posted anywhere on the platform. However, these policies are not being enforced in any meaningful way. As a result, pornography and other banned content flourishes on the platform and is easily discoverable by the children that make up so much of Kik’s user base. Kik is not safe for minors.
See our compiled evidence in this easy to view & download PDF
Prostitution Advertising
Our researchers were also inundated with bots promoting prostitution and random sexual encounters, links leading to graphic cartoon pornography, and advertisements with images and videos of women masturbating.
On paper, Kik’s policies do not allow pornography or inappropriate content to be posted anywhere on the platform. However, these policies are not being enforced in any meaningful way. As a result, pornography and other banned content flourishes on the platform and is easily discoverable by the children that make up so much of Kik’s user base. Kik is not safe for minors.
See our compiled evidence in this easy to view & download PDF
Department of Justice Press Releases
Finding evidence of predatory behavior being facilitated on Kik is not difficult. NCOSE staff searched the Department of Justice (DOJ) website for press releases documenting arrests involving Kik. Out of the 57 results that were returned, every article was related to incidents(s) of CSAM, sexual exploitation, and/or sexual grooming that had happened on Kik.
Below is a list of press releases from the Offices of United States Attorneys (USAO) involving Kik from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023:vi
Teacher accused of child pornography offenses
A 29-year-old College Station resident has been arrested for distribution and possession of child pornography.
March 24, 2023
Federal authorities today announced eight new child sexual exploitation cases alleging the victimization of minors – sometimes by convicted sex offenders – and charging a range of crimes that include sex trafficking, enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and producing child pornography.
March 14, 2023
March 9, 2023
Alameda County Firefighter Indicted For Possession Of Child Pornography
OAKLAND – Charles Johnathen Harris made his initial federal court appearance today to face charges that he was in possession of child pornography in violation of federal law, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.
March 7, 2023
Chugiak Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Children
February 27, 2023
Preston Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses
January 26, 2023
Sentencing, Guilty Pleas, and Convictions
Former North Kingstown Man Sentenced for Transferring Obscene Material
PROVIDENCE – A former North Kingstown man who transferred sexually explicit material to another person online, after the other person represented that he was a 10-year-old child, has been sentenced to five years of federal probation, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
April 7, 2023
Ohio Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing Child Pornography
April 7, 2023
April 6, 2023
Brazoria man lands significant sentence for producing child pornography and sending via Kik
A 38-year-old Brazoria resident has been ordered to federal prison following his multiple convictions, to include sexual exploitation of a child, distribution and possession of child pornography as well as destruction of property,
April 4, 2023
A former middle school mathematics teacher in San Bernardino was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for distributing an image of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
April 3, 2023
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charge
DAVENPORT, IA – An Iowa City man was sentenced to 204 months in prison for receiving child pornography.
March 31, 2023
March 30, 2023
Tuscola Man Sentenced to 27 years in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation of Children
March 30, 2023
Orion Township Man Sentenced to 15 Years For Distributing Child Pornography
March 23, 2023
Houston resident sent to prison for soliciting sexually-explicit videos of minors
A 25-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison after his convictions of production and possession of child pornography
March 23, 2023
Local man pleads guilty to receiving child pornography via Kik
A 27-year-old McAllen resident has admitted to receiving child pornography approximately nine times.
March 21, 2023
UTRGV student admits to downloading child pornography via Kik
A 21-year-old Los Fresnos resident has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography
March 21, 2023
Clayton Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison For Soliciting Child Pornography from 11-year-old
Jason W. Fine pretended to be an 11-year-old girl while requesting and receiving nude pictures of the 11-year-old Kentucky girl via Kik Messenger.
March 15, 2023
Queens Man Sentenced To 16 Years in Prison for Enticing Three Minors to Engage in Sexual Conduct
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rogelio Vega was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee to 16 years in prison for enticing three minors to engage in sexual conduct.
March 15, 2023
Tacoma man pleads guilty to producing images of child sexual abuse
Tacoma – A 37-year-old Tacoma man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
March 14, 2023
March 13, 2023
March 3, 2023
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charge
DAVENPORT, IA – A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced on February 28, 2023, to 108 months in prison for receipt of child pornography.
March 3, 2023
St. Louis County Man Gets 8+ Years on Child Pornography Charges
Michael Morales served as an administrator in a meeting room on the Kik social media app known for trading child sexual abuse material.
March 2, 2023
District Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison For Child Exploitation
February 28, 2023
Jury Convicts Warren County Man of Receiving, Transporting and Possessing Child Pornography
February 27, 2023
West Des Moines Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes
Des Moines, IA – A West Des Moines man was sentenced today to 60 years in prison for multiple child exploitation offenses.
February 24, 2023
Roseville Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography
February 23, 2023
Story County Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography
Des Moines, IA – A Nevada, Iowa man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison following his guilty plea for possession of child pornography.
February 23, 2023
A Farley, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to sexually assaulting a 3-year-old victim to produce child pornography and distribute it to others through the Kik application.
February 23, 2023
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Dominic Shapiro (33, Forrest Hills, New York) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Shapiro to register as a sex offender and forfeit a cellphone that was used in the commission of the offense. Shapiro had pleaded guilty on November 18, 2022.
February 21, 2023
Man In Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material Is Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison
February 17, 2023
St. Charles County Man Who Hid Camera in Bathroom Sentenced to 16 ½ Years for Child Pornography
Scott A. Falkner admitted secretly video recording girls ranging in age from 10 to 17 in his bathroom.
February 16, 2023
Admitted Child Rapist Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Pornography
A Dallas man who repeatedly raped a 7-year-old child was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in federal prison.
February 16, 2023
Inola Man and Tulsa Man Plead Guilty to Child Pornography Charges
TULSA, Okla. – Two men pleaded guilty this week in federal court to child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
February 16, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Logan, Ohio, man was sentenced in federal court here today to 540 months for producing child pornography of a three-year-old child and possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse, some of which depicted other minor children to whom the defendant had access.
February 16, 2023
February 13, 2023
Receiving and storing child pornography via social media lands man in prison
A 22-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography
February 10, 2023
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography
February 9, 2023
Wentworth Man Sentenced for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
February 9, 2023
Wentworth Man Sentenced for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
February 6, 2023
February 6, 2023
Wentworth Man Sentenced for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
February 6, 2023
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sex Offense Against A Minor
February 3, 2023
Maine Man Sentenced to Thirteen Years in Prison for Child Exploitation
BOSTON – A Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for travelling to have sex with a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
February 2, 2023
Wisconsin Rapids Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children & Recording the Assaults
February 2, 2023
January 31, 2023
Henderson County Man Is Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Receipt Of Child Pornography
January 26, 2023
Federal Jury Convicts Blackfoot Man of Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography
January 26, 2023
Joplin Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography
A Joplin, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving and distributing child pornography.
January 23, 2023
NW Houston man gets 30 years for multiple charges involving the sexual exploitation of children
A 27-year-old Jersey Village resident has been ordered to prison for the sexual exploitation of children as well as receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography
January 23, 2023
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet
January 20, 2023
Sioux City, Iowa Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography
January 20, 2023
January 19, 2023
Quincy Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offense
BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
January 19, 2023
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Exploitation Offense
January 11, 2023
Stonington Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense
January 10, 2023
Summerville Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography
Charleston, South Carolina — Cameron Dyer, 30, of Summerville, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.
January 9, 2023
St. Charles County Man Sentenced to 4+ Years in Prison for Downloading and Sharing Child Pornography
Eric S. Crews used social media, including Kik Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp and TamTam, to send and receive child pornography
January 6, 2023
January 5, 2023
January 3, 2023
Albuquerque man pleads guilty to cyberstalking, child pornography offenses
Zachary Dosch, 23, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2022, to cyberstalking, receipt of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography.
See our compiled evidence in this easy to view & download PDF
Fast Facts
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This panel of digital safety experts will elevate some of the current and emerging digital dangers facing youth, share promising practices to prepare children on their digital journey, discuss the role and responsibilities of tech companies to their young users, and give us hope through evidence that change – at the individual and systemic level – is possible.