What is NGL? An NGL App Review for Parents
Overview
If there’s one type of app that’s guaranteed to cause problems, it’s anonymous question apps. These apps pop up every few years and ride a wave of popularity — think ASKfm, Whisper, and more. NGL — short for “not gonna lie” — is the latest anonymous question app making waves, and what sets this one apart is that it integrates with Instagram (kind of like an app add-on).
You post your NGL link to your Instagram stories and people can tap it. This takes them to a website where they can send you an anonymous message. You can choose to reply to the question via another Instagram story, where everyone can see the original question and your answer. So, what is NGL? A recipe for drama. Let’s get into all the details!
Harmful Content 😲
NGL provides a way for friends and strangers to ask anonymous questions — or just send messages — to a user. It doesn’t take too much imagination to see the problems this can cause among young people on Instagram. The primary threat is cyberbullying, which can include aggressive and hurtful messages, rumor spreading, and more.
Predation 🚨
You have to share your NGL link with people for them to send you messages. Because of this, the potential for predation is low compared to more out-in-the-open chat or messaging platforms, but that doesn’t mean it’s zero. Also, NGL amplifies the chance that a predator may respond to a child’s Instagram Stories.
Positive Value 💙
There’s not much positive value that NGL brings to a teen’s life. If you have nice friends and a private Instagram account, it’s possible that the app could just stimulate some interesting conversations and DMs, but that’s about it. The potential for personal information being shared, hurt feelings, and bullying is just too high.
Privacy 🔒
Because of the anonymous nature of the app, NGL may tempt kids to reveal information about themselves. A private Instagram account may help reduce how far information can travel, but screenshots of Stories can still be taken and shared.
Parental Controls ✅
Unfortunately, there are no parental controls for NGL.
So, should my kid download it?
Probably not. NGL, while the latest anonymous question app to make waves, isn’t for kids. It can lead to risky questions (and answers) on Instagram, a platform that already has enough dangers for children. What is NGL? Not safe for kids!
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