4 hours agoTue 30 Dec 2025 at 7:05am

The Kik messaging service, while not on the e-safety list of banned platforms for under-16s, is meant to be used only by over-18s. (Supplied)

In short: 

Tasmania Police say following the "detection of the sharing of child exploitation material on the social media platform Kik", officers began an investigation and "identified a male youth suspect residing in Tasmania".

Police allege that during the execution of a search warrant today, they discovered a "large amount of serious child exploitation material" on the youth's phone.

What's next?

Tasmania Police urged parents to ensure their under-16-year-olds are not accessing restricted social media — adding that parents "cannot rely solely on restrictions to keep young people safe online".

Police have charged a southern Tasmanian youth after allegedly discovering a "large amount of serious child exploitation material" on his phone.

In a statement, police said an investigation was launched after the "detection of the sharing of child exploitation material" on the mobile messaging app Kik.

A joint police investigation, involving state and federal police officers, executed a search warrant today at an undisclosed location in southern Tasmania. 

"During the search, police examined numerous digital devices, locating a large amount of serious child exploitation material on the youth's mobile phone,"

police said.

As a result, the youth was arrested and charged with possession of child exploitation material. 

Police said he had been bailed to appear before the court at a later date and was "subject to strict conditions".

While Kik — not to be confused with the video streaming platform Kick — is not explicitly listed by eSafety as an age-restricted platform under the government's recent social media restrictions, its terms of use specify it is to be used only by people over the age of 18.

Tasmania Police urged parents to ensure their under-16-year-olds are not accessing restricted social media.

It said parents "cannot rely solely on restrictions to keep young people safe online".