Science Club

Stay Safe Online At Christmas

Dec 13, 2018

As Christmas approaches and many young people will be receiving new electronic devices such as smart phones, it is a good time for parents and carers to be aware of some of the popular Apps used by young people - and the possible risks associated with them.

One of these is Kik Messenger; a free messaging app aimed at users aged thirteen and over. Used by more than 300 million people worldwide, Kik lets users exchange messages, photos, videos, GIFs and web pages with friends, family, chatbots and even strangers.

Unlike WhatsApp, Kik doesn’t require a user to sign up with a phone number. Instead, friends can be added via their username, making it easier for users to receive unwanted contact from strangers. Police in the UK issued a safety warning earlier in the year, claiming that Kik has featured in ‘more than 1,100 child sexual abuse cases in the last five years’ and that ‘children are at risk’ on the app. (BBC News Story).

Click this link to access a free safety guide for parents.