Is NGL safe for my child?

Honestly, no — not for under-16s, and we would urge most parents to ask their child to remove it. NGL ("not gonna lie") lets anyone send anonymous messages to your child via a link on their Instagram bio. There is no meaningful moderation, the anonymity is by design, and research from organisations such as the Anti-Bullying Alliance and Internet Matters has consistently linked anonymous-messaging apps to higher rates of cyberbullying, anxiety, and self-harm in teens. The UK App Store rates NGL 17+ for this reason. It is not illegal and many UK teens use it, but the design itself is the risk — there is no safe configuration.

Can NGL reveal who sent a message?

Not reliably. NGL sells a paid "hints" feature that claims to give clues about the sender (such as approximate location or device). In 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission settled with NGL after finding it had misled users about both the AI-generated nature of some messages and the accuracy of these "hints," and banned the app for under-18s in the US. UK rules differ, but the underlying point stands: paying for hints does not give you a real name, and the app cannot help police identify a sender — only the platform itself or law enforcement can do that.

My child is being bullied through NGL — what should we do?

Screenshot the abusive messages (date and time visible), then ask your child to delete the NGL link from their Instagram bio and uninstall the app — this stops further messages immediately. Report serious bullying to your child's school. If messages include threats of violence, sexual content, or appear to come from an adult, report to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) at ceop.police.uk, or call 101 (or 999 if there is immediate danger). Childline (0800 1111) and NSPCC (0808 800 5000) are free for emotional support.

Will removing NGL upset my child socially?

It might, briefly. Many teens feel pressure to have an NGL link because their friends do. Explain that anonymous question apps tend to come and go in waves — Sarahah, Yolo, Sendit and now NGL — and that opting out is a reasonable thing to do. Most schools, UK police forces, and NSPCC actively advise against anonymous-question apps for under-16s.

NGL Safety Guide for Parents — The Anonymous Question App

What UK parents need to know about NGL, the anonymous question app linked to Instagram Stories — how it works, why it pressures teens, and the safest action to take.

Official age

17+

We recommend

16+

Developer

NGL, Inc.

Risks

Direct messaging

In-app purchases

Overview

NGL ("not gonna lie") is an anonymous question and message app. The user generates a personal link, shares it in their Instagram bio or Story, and anyone who taps it can send them an anonymous message that appears in the NGL app. It is rated 17+ on the UK App Store but is very widely used by under-16s, often as a casual "ask me anything" game. The design — anonymity, no real moderation, and emotional volatility of unknown messages — is what makes it risky.

How children use it

Teens typically post their NGL link to their Instagram Story with a prompt like "ask me anything" or "send me a confession." They then check NGL for replies, sometimes refreshing compulsively. A paid "hints" upsell offers vague clues about senders. Bullying often happens here because anonymity reduces the social cost of cruelty — and many children share the link with hundreds of followers, including people they barely know.

Main risks

cyberbullying harmful content social media safety

Recommended privacy settings

Remove NGL link from Instagram bio

Location: Instagram > Edit Profile > Bio

Set to: Removed

Cuts off the main route by which strangers can send anonymous messages. The single most effective change you can make.

Block specific senders

Location: Open message in NGL > tap menu > Block

Set to: Use for any abusive sender

NGL can block the device or account that sent a particular message from sending more. It does not unmask them.

Delete NGL account

Location: NGL app > Settings > Account > Delete account

Set to: Recommended for under-16s

Removes the link, message history, and account data. Reinstalling later creates a fresh account.

Turn off Instagram Story link sharing

Location: Instagram Story > Sticker icon > avoid Link sticker for NGL

Set to: Avoid posting NGL link in Stories

If your child does keep NGL, keeping the link out of their public Story reduces traffic from people they do not know.

Parent actions

essential

Have a non-judgemental conversation about anonymous-message apps and why anonymity tends to bring out cruelty

Time: 20 minutes

essential

Ask your child to remove the NGL link from their Instagram bio and uninstall the app — frame it as removing pressure, not as punishment

Time: 10 minutes

recommended

Use device-level screen-time tools (iOS Screen Time / Android Family Link) to block reinstallation if your child is being targeted

Time: 10 minutes

essential

If your child has received abusive messages, screenshot them and contact their school. Report criminal content (threats, sexual messages, adults targeting children) to CEOP at ceop.police.uk or 101

Time: 30 minutes