NGL: the app that lets you share anonymous thoughts with mutuals

From ad trackers to algorithms that monitor your online activity, it can be difficult to remain truly anonymous. You can make your social media profiles private, but it doesn’t change the fact that every post, tweet, and comment is tied to a name. NGLis a new app that allows you to share your thoughts and opinions with your followers anonymously. 

“NGL” is a social media abbreviation that stands for “not gonna lie,” a phrase that people use before confessing a thought or opinion. Launched in 2021 and available worldwide on both Apple and Android, NGL hopes to provide a safe space for young people online. 

NGL might remind folks of ask.fm, also a website used to ask questions and share thoughts anonymously. However, since ask.fm doesn't have a tracker or any monitoring, it was often used to bully and harass people with no consequences. NGL prioritizes safety by using AI content moderation. NGL has built-in algorithms that can detect and filter out harmful content associated with hate speech and cyberbullying. The app also offers the option to report and block users. 

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“This means we stay on trend, we understand lingo, and we know how to filter out the bad stuff,” says NGL on their webpage. 

To use NGL, users must connect the app to their Instagram handle. NGL will then provide a link that you can copy and paste onto your Instagram Story, which your mutuals can tap on to respond. The questions and comments will show up on NGL’s “Inbox” feature.

While NGL does claim to be completely anonymous, the app does provide “hints” on who the responding users might be. The app is free, but there are also different subscription tiers.

Ready to know what your mutuals really think of you? Here’s how to get started with NGL:

1. First, download the app onto your phone either through the App Store or Google Play.

Credit: Rizwana Zafer

2. When you open NGL, you will be prompted to enter your Instagram handle.

Credit: Rizwana Zafer

3. After you’re linked to Instagram, NGL will present you with a link that you can copy and paste onto your Instagram story. While the default prompt is “send me anonymous messages,” you can change the prompt by clicking the icon of a die in the prompt box.

Credit: Rizwana Zafer

4. To share the NGL prompt to your Instagram story, all you have to do is tap on the “Create” option on your story page and add the link.

Credit: Rizwana Zafer

5. After you’ve shared the prompt to your story, you can access the responses in the “Inbox” tab on the NGL app.