A听private social network app for families听has launched in the UK with 拢2.3 million funding.听
The Kin app provides an alternative to the predominant social听media and messaging platforms that cater to hyper-connectivity and marketing.听听
Families听are able to听keep in touch, share memories, images and record future messages in a safe and secure closed group, without having to navigate newsfeeds, influencers or unwanted听members.听
London-based Kin says the pre-launch funding听is听the highest private network听raise in Europe听and values the business at听around 拢18m.听听
Its founders听Michael Collett and Matt Blom听identified听a gap in the market and a need for a social app designed for families by families that protects the personal data and media of its users.听听
鈥淩esearch听shows that by the time a child turns听13 parents have already shared an average of 1,300 photos of their kids online,鈥� said Collett (below). 鈥�However, only now are we beginning to truly understand the impact that this can have.听
鈥�By听the year 2030,听鈥�sharenting鈥�听– sharing听a child鈥檚 photos and personal information online – is predicted to account for two thirds of identity fraud online.听听
鈥�It鈥檚 vital for parents to be aware of what information they are putting online in public and begin to alter their habits.听
鈥淭he public nature of traditional social platforms听comes with risks and downsides, including having your data owned and sold to third parties.听听
鈥�Consumers are now starting to wise up to this and take action –听WhatsApp鈥檚听loss of millions of users following听its privacy policy update in January perfectly encapsulates this change in consumer attitude.听
鈥淗owever, people still want and crave an online听space for family and friends to remain connected and create a space of intimacy, especially in the current times when many of us are unable to physically be with the ones we love, they just want their data to be protected and respected.听听
鈥�Kin is meeting this听new demand – we are entering a new age of private media space.鈥澨�听
With Kin, each family group has access to its own shared space听which is only accessible via invitation from the designated group leader or 鈥�KinPin鈥�. This ensures that all the personal information, data and media are kept completely private.听听
MessagingSocial media