Parents are being urged to take a closer look at the apps on their children’s phones after the National Center on Sexual Exploitation issued a strong warning about Kik, a messaging platform the organization says remains dangerous for minors.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, also known as NCOSE, said one of its researchers recently created an account on Kik while posing as a 12-year-old girl. According to the organization, the account began receiving sexually abusive messages from strangers within seconds.

The test account used the name “Im12BeNice,” which clearly suggested the user was underage. Despite that, NCOSE reported that strangers immediately contacted the profile with sexual comments, nude images and links. The organization said the messages continued, and that the account remained active while receiving content described as exclusively sexual in nature.

NCOSE said the findings are especially troubling because Kik has previously appeared on the group’s “Dirty Dozen List,” which identifies companies and platforms accused of enabling or failing to adequately address sexual exploitation. Following earlier criticism, the organization said Kik appeared to adopt several recommended child-safety measures. However, NCOSE now says its latest review shows those changes are not doing enough to protect young users.

According to the organization, Kik claims to have an 18-and-older policy, but NCOSE said the app does not require meaningful age verification. The group also said Kik allows users to create accounts that appear to belong to children, does not require a verified email address, still connects people with strangers and has sexual content filters that failed during the organization’s review.

Haley McNamara, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said the findings should alarm families, policymakers and technology regulators.

“Our pressure test of Kik’s proclaimed safety changes indicates that the platform fails to protect children and remains a ‘predator’s paradise,’” McNamara said. “In fact, this failure reveals that Kik is misleading the public to the direct detriment of children who will inevitably be sexually abused by strangers. This cannot stand, and Kik must urgently address this issue.”

For parents, the warning serves as a reminder that an app’s published safety policy does not always mean children are protected once they start using it. Apps that allow anonymous messaging, direct contact from strangers or unverified accounts can create serious risks, especially when young users are able to interact privately with adults they do not know.

Parents should regularly review every app installed on a child’s phone, tablet or computer. That includes checking messaging platforms, social media accounts, gaming chats and any program that allows private communication. Families should also look for hidden folders, secondary profiles or apps that may not appear obvious at first glance.

Child-safety advocates often recommend that parents talk openly with children about online risks before a problem occurs. That conversation should include reminders that strangers may lie about their age, identity or intentions. Children should also know they will not be punished for reporting an uncomfortable message, image or request.

Warning signs may include a child suddenly hiding their screen, becoming secretive about online activity, receiving messages at unusual hours, using unfamiliar apps or appearing upset after time on a device. While those behaviors do not automatically mean exploitation is occurring, they are reasons for a parent or guardian to calmly ask questions and review online activity.

NCOSE also called for broader accountability. The organization urged Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act and asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Kik over what it described as misleading safety controls.

“When a digital platform has safety mechanisms that do not work as advertised, children can be harmed,” McNamara said. “There needs to be accountability.”

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation was founded in 1962 and works to expose links between child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health harms of pornography.

For families, the message is direct: do not assume an app is safe simply because it says minors are not allowed. Parents are encouraged to check devices, review privacy settings, limit stranger contact, and make sure children understand how to report suspicious or sexual messages immediately.

• Read the statement released by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation HERE.