eSAFETY GUIDE

ICQ

12+
minimum age according to ICQ
12+ minimum age according to ICQ

What was ICQ?

ICQ-Chat was one of the first online instant messaging platforms in the world. After launching in the late 1990s as a chatroom and forum website, ICQ-Chat expanded to include mobile and desktop applications such as ICQ.

ICQ was a cross-platform instant messaging app which let you chat to other users through encrypted voice/video calling and a range of messaging functions. Features included: text, stickers, group chat, interest-based channels and live chats (previously known as chat rooms), ready-made text responses, chat bots, voice-to-text conversion, face filters, in-app photo/video editing functions and uncompressed content sharing. ICQ claimed to work well even on low quality internet connections and would sync across multiple devices.

ICQ accounts were free to set up with an active mobile number. If you preferred not to share your phone number, you could use a nickname and link the app to your personal contact library. You could also search for other ICQ users anywhere in the world.

ICQ supported content sharing from third party apps (IFTTT) so that material published on other platforms could be shared on ICQ.

ICQ is no longer operating as of June 2024.

How did people use ICQ?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people used instant messaging services like ICQ.

ICQ was used for: encrypted, messaging/online chat, photo/video sharing, video calling and voice chat..

Social media changes

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms are not allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews, endorsements or assessments against any legislative definition by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.