Now there’s one less e-influence for parents to worry about. The popular messaging app Kik recently announced that it’s shutting down.
Like other messaging apps and social media sites, Kik was a fave among teens. The ability to message “friends” without mom or dad knowing (outside of traditional texting services) quickly took off with kiddos across the country—but not without it’s criticism.
photo: Yura Fresh via Unsplash
Even though parents weren’t always thrilled with the freedom their tweens and teens felt while using messaging apps, this wasn’t the reason for Kik’s seemingly sudden closure. The chat app, which was valued at $1 billion, shuttered after a dispute with federal regulators over its cryptocurrency, Kin.
Reportedly, the app will reduce its staff from 100 to 19. In a statement, on Medium, Kik CEO Ted Livingston wrote, “After 18 months of working with the SEC the only choice they gave us was to either label Kin a security or fight them in court.”
Livingston does note that Kik will focus on, “Converting Kin users into Kin buyers.” So when it comes to your kiddos and Kik, from now on the chat app is no more.
—Erica Loop
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