KIK

Kik is a cross-platform instant messaging app and platform created by Kik Interactive. Launched in 2010, it enables users to communicate via text, images, and video across iOS, Android, and other platforms. Unlike many other messaging services, Kik signs in users with a chosen username rather than a phone number, which has both appeal for privacy and concerns about safety for younger users.

Founded by Ted Livingston, Kik Interactive is based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The service grew to millions of registered users, especially among younger audiences, by offering features such as group chats, multimedia messaging, and a bot ecosystem. Kik also introduced Kik Codes, a scannable code used to find and connect with others, and supported a platform for bots and automated chat experiences within conversations.

In 2017, Kik launched Kin, a cryptocurrency intended to power an in-app economy for Kik and its users. The Kin project was later spun out toward independence from the messaging app. In 2019 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a case against Kik over the sale of Kin tokens, drawing regulatory attention to the project. The legal actions and ongoing developments around Kin have influenced discussions about tokens in consumer apps.

Today, Kik Messenger continues to operate as a free, cross-platform messaging service, though its market position has been challenged by other major messaging apps. The company and the Kin project remain notable for exploring in-app virtual economies and the privacy implications of username-based identity in mobile messaging.