How to get started with Kiwi - Q&A
Most of us don't need another social networking or messaging app. Between Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and others, we're already as connected as we could possibly be, or so it seems.
Yet people are still flocking to Kiwi - Q&A, which is currently atop the free iOS App Store chart in the U.S. What makes Kiwi different enough to attract that kind of attention?
It's because it's an app that focuses specifically on asking and answering questions. Plus it straddles the line between openness and anonymity, and it includes a few features from traditional social networking apps as well.
If that description was enough to pique your curiosity, we can help you get started quickly with Kiwi as soon as you've downloaded the app for free.
Sign up with Facebook or email
The first time you open the Kiwi - Q&A app, you'll be asked to sign up either via Facebook or by entering an email address. It's obviously a matter of personal preference which method you choose, unless you're the anti-Facebook sort.
Invite friends
The second screen you see when using Kiwi for the first time will offer a list of people you might want to add. If you chose to use Facebook to connect, be aware that the default is to invite all of your friends. However there is a quick checkbox at the top that you can toggle off to make sure you aren't annoying all of your contacts.
One nice thing you'll notice is that at least if you use Facebook to connect, any friends you have who are already using the app will appear as your followers, and you will automatically follow them as well. That allows you to hit the ground running, so to speak, unless you choose otherwise.
Ask a question
From the app's home screen, you'll notice sections for recommended people (though it's not clear how Kiwi Q&A formulates this list) and recent questions and answers from both people you follow and the general public. If you tap on the second icon at the bottom (it looks like a small compass), you'll be taken to the main question screen.
An updated list of recent questions asked by other Kiwi users appears here, along with info on who asked the question, how long ago and how many answers it's received so far. You can use the top navigation bar to sort them by most popular, new, or nearby, provided you allow the app to use your location
Tapping the 'Ask a Question' button at the bottom of the screen opens a window for you to ask your own question. Note that you can hide your name by checking the box at the very bottom of the text window, but the default setting keeps your name attached.
Check your questions and answers, edit your profile and more
The final icon from the bottom navigation looks like an abstract person, and it's the place to go to see your profile. Here you can edit your name and handle (done with the '@' symbol a la Twitter), and see how many followers and likes you have.
Your list of questions and answers is here for easy viewing, and you can set status updates as you would on Facebook.
And that's really all there is to it, at least when it comes to getting started. Once you've reached an intermediate level of Kiwi - Q&A proficiency, be sure to share your tips with other beginners in the comments section here. Happy questioning and answering!