Popular dating sites like Match and OK Cupid spend millions on algorithms and advertising to help you hook up, but the costs and constraints of these services can sometimes be a turnoff. Thats why many people (especially young people) are turning to chat apps and Instant Messages, or “IMs”, to find someone new. These apps may not always offer the sophisticated matching features of an online dating site, but theyre free and open. If this sounds like something youd like to try, consider Kik. It isnt just a messaging app, its a mini-ecosystem within which you can surf the net, chat, share media and ideas, buy stuff, sell stuff, and hook up. Kik is all about connecting people, and what they do after that is entirely up to them. If youre new to the world of Kik, lets walk through how to use it to find a date.
How to find people on Kik
Start your own public group If you cant find what youre interested in, start your own public group. It could be anything you like-politics, video games, sports, gardening, you name it. Give the group a meaningful name, and let people find it. Build it and they will come.
Use address book matching Go to Settings -> Chat Settings -> Address Book Matching. The app will check to see who in your phone contacts has Kik and send a message. This can be a great way to expand your existing social network.
How to find a date on Kik
Kik is not a dating app, but it does lend itself well to meeting new people. Two popular Kik tools for finding a date are “Match Chat” and “Matcher”. They have similar names but are different services. Type ‘match into the Kik web browser and both of these will appear. These apps are third-party services and will attempt to match you up with other like-minded Kik users.
Match Chat requires you to link your Kik profile to its own website and allow it access to your Kik profile. You will then be able to browse their listing of users to find someone you like. It works a lot like Tinder, swiping left and right to select matches.
Matcher does much the same thing. Browse user profiles, identify people you like, and if they like you too, youll get connected.
Another popular Kik tool is Flirt!, which gives you a list of people within your age range living in your area to connect with.
You can also find fellow Kik users on Reddit. Check out Kikpals, a page specifically for Kik users wanting to meet others. Tumblr does much the same thing on Kik Single.
Be aware, though, that the average age of the users on these sites is around 20. Some of the sites also include popups and pop-unders, so make sure your device is secure if you interact with any Tinder vs OkCupid of them.
Tips for finding people on Kik
Theres no shortage of people to find on Kik, but how do you know if they share your interests? Most third-party sites or groups will include a small profile element for you to check, and if youre lucky it will contain an image, an age, approximate location, and what theyre looking for. There should also be a ‘Kik Me button for you to tap to let them know youre interested.
Tap Kik Me, write them a message, and then sit back and wait for a response. The person you message has to agree to talk to you before you can communicate. Some apps within Kik will keep your username private until they agree to chat, others wont. Make sure you know what you are looking for.
Taking care
As with any online platform where people want to meet, chat, or whatever, you get the usual lowlifes, scammers, and worse. The usual rules apply to Kik as they do anywhere on the internet:
- Never take people at face value. Kik does not require users to verify their identity, and the person youre talking with might not be who they claim to be.
- Dont disclose too much private information until youre certain the person youre communicating with can be trusted.
- Dont share anything you wouldnt want your mother to see.
Many legitimate users will ask you to record a video of yourself to prove youre real. For example, someone might ask you to record yourself holding a pen on your forehead while saying their username twice. It may seem a little bizarre, but bots abound on Kik, and these videos are a common way of establishing your authenticity. Go with it.
Kik may be a messaging app but it has the potential for so much more. Hooking up on Kik is as simple as finding someone and asking them to Kik you. Meeting people doesnt get easier than that!