Have you been thinking about deleting your Kik account recently?
You‘re not alone – millions of people have made the decision to leave the popular messaging app.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know to permanently delete your Kik account, including:
- What is Kik and why you may want to delete it
- A beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to deleting your account
- What happens after your account is deleted
- The top 7 alternative messaging apps to use instead
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to delete your Kik account for good and move on to another platform.
So let‘s get started!
What is Kik and Why Delete It?
Founded in 2009, Kik Messenger (or just Kik) is a free instant messaging app where you can chat with friends and meet new people. Here are some key facts about Kik:
- 100+ million registered users worldwide
- Popular with teenagers and young adults
- Available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows PC
- Lets you share photos, memes, gifs, videos, and more
- Has group chats and public groups to meet people
However, Kik has faced growing controversy in recent years over privacy and harassment issues that may make you want to delete your account.
Privacy and Security Concerns
According to cybersecurity experts, Kik lacks end-to-end encryption. This means your messages are vulnerable to hacking or surveillance. In 2016, a security researcher discovered a flaw that made it easy for attackers to access Kik account information and chat messages.
Kik also keeps a log of every user‘s IP address, meaning they have your location data. The company faced a lawsuit in 2019 alleging it violated privacy laws by collecting personal data on minors.
Harassment and Bullying
According to nonprofit watchdog Cyberbullying Research Center, the anonymity provided by Kik has made it a popular app for cyberbullies and harassers. 40% of American teens have reported being bullied on Kik.
Limited Features
Compared to apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, Kik offers a limited experience. It lacks popular features like desktop support, video calls, stickers, and integrations. The interface feels dated to many users.
Step-by-Step: How to Permanently Delete Your Kik Account
Ready to delete your Kik account? Follow this simple beginner‘s guide:
1. Open Your Desktop Web Browser
You can‘t delete your Kik account from within the app itself. Instead, you‘ll need to visit Kik‘s account deletion page on your Mac or PC desktop web browser.
I recommend Chrome or Firefox. The page won‘t work properly on a mobile browser.
2. Go to the Account Deletion Page
Type ws.kik.com/delete into your web browser‘s address bar and hit enter. This will take you directly to the Kik account deletion page.
It should look like this:
3. Enter Your Account Details
On the page, you‘ll need to enter the following details:
- Kik Username – This is your unique username on Kik that others use to find you.
- Email Address – Enter the email associated with your Kik account where you can receive a confirmation message.
- Reason for Leaving – Pick from options like "App performance issues", "Leaving the platform", etc.
4. Check the Terms of Service Box
Scroll down and check the box next to "I have read and agree to the Terms of Service". This will confirm you agree to permanently deleting the account.
5. Click the "Go" Button
This will submit your Kik account deletion request.
6. Check Your Email for the Confirmation Link
Open your email inbox for the address you provided. You should get an email from Kik with a unique "Permanently deactivate" link.
7. Click the Permanent Deactivation Link
This will immediately and permanently delete all your Kik account data. Click it within 24 hours before the link expires.
Once you click it, you‘ll see a "Your account has been deactivated" message. Congrats, your Kik account has now been permanently deleted!
What Happens After Your Kik Account is Deleted?
Wondering what happens after you permanently delete your Kik account? Here‘s what you can expect:
- Lose access to your messages – All your previous chats and group messages will be gone.
- Profile removed – Your Kik profile, including bio, photos, and username, will be wiped from Kik‘s system.
- Friends can‘t message you – Your contacts will get notifications that your account no longer exists when they try to chat.
- Removed from recommendations – You will no longer show up as a suggested friend or be visible in People Nearby.
- No reactivation possible – Once deleted, your account cannot ever be restored or reactivated.
- No more emails from Kik – They will stop sending you notifications or messages to your linked email. It‘s a 100% clean break.
- Permanent and irreversible – According to Kik‘s privacy policy, account deletion is permanent and you can‘t retrieve data.
In summary, all ties with Kik will be severed and it will be like your account never existed in the first place!
Top 7 Messaging Apps to Replace Kik
If you‘re looking for a new messaging app after Kik, here are the top options to consider in 2022 based on user base, features, and privacy:
| App | Users | End-to-End Encryption | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2+ billion | Yes | Video calls, desktop support, group chats | |
| Facebook Messenger | 2+ billion | Partial | Chat bots, payments, games |
| 1.2+ billion | Partial | Mini-programs, moments feed | |
| Telegram | 550+ million | Yes | Media sharing, channel broadcasting |
| Signal | 150+ million | Yes | Strongest encryption, simple interface |
| Line | 84+ million | Yes | Stickers, social networking |
| Viber | 1+ billion | Yes | Free calls & messages, hidden chats |
WhatsApp is likely the most well-rounded Kik alternative with the largest global user base. Owned by Meta, it offers complete end-to-end encryption for secure messaging. The huge audience makes it easy to chat with existing contacts. WhatsApp also has great features like video and voice calls, group chats, desktop support and more.
Telegram is great for users focused on privacy. It offers end-to-end encryption by default for chats. You can also create large broadcasting channels and share unlimited size media. Telegram has a clean, user-friendly interface and a rapidly growing global audience.
Signal is similar to Telegram but has an even greater focus on security. All chats and calls are encrypted end-to-end by default. Signal also minimizes the data they collect on users. If privacy is your main concern, Signal is likely the best Kik alternative.
Line dominates the Japanese messaging market. It‘s fun to use with stickers, social networking features and cute aesthetics. Line lets you easily chat with existing contacts in Japan or make new friends worldwide.
There are many excellent Kik alternatives to switch to in 2022. Evaluate your priorities like audience reach, security, or features to pick the right messaging app for your needs.
Let‘s Recap…
Now you have all the steps and information to permanently delete your Kik account:
- Submit a deletion request through the Kik website by providing your details and confirming with the Terms of Service.
- Check your email for the account deletion link Kik sends you and click to permanently deactivate your account.
- Your profile, messages, and data will be removed from Kik forever, allowing you to move on.
- Popular messaging apps to switch to include WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Line, Viber, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat.
I hope this guide gives you confidence to delete your Kik account smoothly and transition to a new messaging app! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.