Fact Check: Are ngl messages really anonymous?

Fact Check: Are ngl messages really anonymous?

Published May 9, 2025
±
VERDICT
Partially True

# Are NGL Messages Really Anonymous? The claim under scrutiny is whether messages sent through the NGL (Not Gonna Lie) app are truly anonymous. NGL i...

Are NGL Messages Really Anonymous?

The claim under scrutiny is whether messages sent through the NGL (Not Gonna Lie) app are truly anonymous. NGL is a messaging application that allows users to receive messages from others without revealing the sender's identity. This feature has raised questions about the actual anonymity of the messages, particularly in light of various reports and user experiences.

What We Know

  1. Functionality of NGL: NGL allows users to create a personal inbox for receiving anonymous messages via a shared link. Users can share this link on social media platforms like Instagram, enabling friends and followers to send messages without revealing their identities 27.

  2. User Experience and Perception: A survey cited by Greasy Guide indicates that a significant percentage of influencers believe that anonymous messaging enhances engagement with their audience 3. This suggests that users may perceive the anonymity as a way to share more candid thoughts.

  3. Claims of Anonymity: NGL's promotional materials and various articles assert that messages sent through the app are anonymous, with the app claiming that the sender's identity is not disclosed 46. However, there are discussions around whether this claim holds true under certain conditions.

  4. Subscription Features: Some sources indicate that NGL offers subscription features that may allow users to see who sent messages, raising questions about the true anonymity of the service 6. This could imply that while the basic service is designed to be anonymous, there are ways to potentially uncover the sender's identity.

  5. Concerns and Critiques: Articles discussing NGL also highlight concerns regarding the potential misuse of anonymous messaging, particularly among younger users. Critics argue that while anonymity can encourage openness, it can also lead to cyberbullying and harassment 15.

Analysis

The claim that NGL messages are truly anonymous is supported by the app's design and user testimonials, but there are nuances that complicate this assertion:

  • Source Reliability: The official NGL website 2 provides a straightforward explanation of the app's functionality, but as a primary source, it may have inherent bias in promoting the app's features. Independent articles, such as those from Bustle 4 and Indian Express 7, offer additional context but may also have their own biases depending on their target audience and editorial stance.

  • Conflicting Information: The existence of subscription features that could potentially reveal the sender's identity 6 raises questions about the reliability of the anonymity claim. If users can opt to pay for features that disclose sender information, the core premise of anonymity is undermined.

  • Methodological Concerns: The surveys mentioned in the Greasy Guide article 3 lack detailed methodology, such as sample size and demographic information, which makes it difficult to assess the validity of the claims regarding user perceptions of anonymity.

  • Potential Conflicts of Interest: Articles discussing the dangers of anonymous messaging 15 may be influenced by a broader agenda to regulate or criticize social media platforms, which could affect their objectivity. Conversely, promotional content may downplay risks associated with anonymity.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True

The assertion that NGL messages are truly anonymous is partially true. The app is designed to facilitate anonymous messaging, and many users report experiencing this anonymity. However, the existence of subscription features that may allow for the identification of senders complicates this claim. Additionally, the lack of rigorous methodology in user surveys and potential biases in source materials introduce uncertainty regarding the extent of anonymity provided by the app.

It is important to recognize that while the app promotes anonymity, there are conditions under which this anonymity may not hold. Users should be aware of these nuances and the potential risks associated with anonymous messaging, including the possibility of misuse.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider the limitations of the evidence available when forming their own conclusions about the anonymity of messages sent through the NGL app.

Sources

  1. The Appeal and Danger of Anonymous Messaging Apps ... (https://www.fielding.edu/the-appeal-and-danger-of-anonymous-messaging-apps-like-ngl/)
  2. NGL (https://ngl.link/)
  3. The Complete Guide to Replying to NGL Messages on Instagram (https://www.greasyguide.com/social/reply-ngl-messages/)
  4. What Is NGL? The Anonymous Question-Asking App, Explained - Bustle (https://www.bustle.com/life/ngl-anonymous-question-app)
  5. What is NGL? The New Threatening App for Kids (https://gabb.com/blog/what-is-ngl/)
  6. How to See Who Sent You Messages in NGL - Followchain (https://www.followchain.org/see-who-sent-messages-ngl/)
  7. NGL app: Everything to know about the anonymous Q&A ... (https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/ngl-app-everything-you-need-to-know-about-anonymous-qa-social-app-8024711/)
  8. Is NGL Link Anonymous? How The Instagram Q&A App Works (https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64061771/)

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Miller isn’t concerned about the state of New York “society.” What bothers him is the idea of nonwhite people having political power. Bessent isn’t really deeply worried about Zamdani’s economic ideas. But he feels free, maybe even obliged, to slander a foreign-born Muslim with language he would never use about a white Christian politician, even if that politician were (like some of his colleagues in the Trump administration) a total crackpot. And while Tuberville stands out even within his caucus as an ignorant fool, his willingness to use dehumanizing language about millions of people shows that raw racism is rapidly becoming mainstream in American politics. Remember, during the campaign both Trump and JD Vance amplified the slanders about Haitians eating pets. And now that they’re in office, you can see the resurgence of raw racism all across Trump administration policies, large and small. 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Anyway, when masked men who claim to be ICE agents but refuse to show identification are grabbing people off the streets because they think those people look illegal, does legal status even matter? Does it even matter if you’re a U.S. citizen? And the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is set to massively increase ICE’s funding — basically setting up a huge national secret police force. Now, maybe you imagine that you yourself won’t suffer from this new reign of bigotry and imagine that everyone you care about is similarly safe. But if that’s what you think, you’re likely to face a rude awakening. I personally don’t have any illusions of safety. Yes, I’m a native-born white citizen. But my wife and her family are Black, and some of my friends and relatives are foreign-born U.S. citizens. Furthermore, I’m Jewish, and anyone who knows their history realizes that whenever right-wing bigotry is on the ascendant, we’re always next in line. 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Detailed fact-check analysis of: Paul Krugman Paul Krugman We’re All Rats Now Time to take a stand, again, against racism Paul Krugman Jun 30, 2025 Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in New York’s Democratic primary has created panic in MAGAland. Stephen Miller, the architect of Donald Trump’s deportation policies, waxed apocalyptic: Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, declared that New York is about to turn into “Caracas on the Hudson.” And Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama basically declared New York’s voters subhuman, saying: These inner-city rats, they live off the federal government. And that’s one reason we’re $37 trillion in debt. And it’s time we find these rats and we send them back home, that are living off the American taxpayers that are working very hard every week to pay taxes. These reactions are vile, and they’re also dishonest. Whatever these men may claim, it’s all about bigotry. Miller isn’t concerned about the state of New York “society.” What bothers him is the idea of nonwhite people having political power. Bessent isn’t really deeply worried about Zamdani’s economic ideas. But he feels free, maybe even obliged, to slander a foreign-born Muslim with language he would never use about a white Christian politician, even if that politician were (like some of his colleagues in the Trump administration) a total crackpot. And while Tuberville stands out even within his caucus as an ignorant fool, his willingness to use dehumanizing language about millions of people shows that raw racism is rapidly becoming mainstream in American politics. Remember, during the campaign both Trump and JD Vance amplified the slanders about Haitians eating pets. And now that they’re in office, you can see the resurgence of raw racism all across Trump administration policies, large and small. 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Fact Check: 	
So now I may expose everything
they love hiding from
customers. First, half of the
security cameras at Walmart are
literally fake. I saw someone
open one up and it was
literally just a plastic shell.
They're just there to scare
you. Alright, they be hiding
this but y'all really can get a
seven hundred dollar Walmart
gift card. If you sign up at
700 WM. com, everyone is
qualified for this and I still
do this every month since I'm a
single mom. Next, if you find
something in Walmart that's
already been open or with
ripped packaging, you can ask
for a discount and we have to
give it to you. Okay now if you
comment Walmart in the comments
00:32
I'll send you a little bonus
False
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Fact Check: So now I may expose everything they love hiding from customers. First, half of the security cameras at Walmart are literally fake. I saw someone open one up and it was literally just a plastic shell. They're just there to scare you. Alright, they be hiding this but y'all really can get a seven hundred dollar Walmart gift card. If you sign up at 700 WM. com, everyone is qualified for this and I still do this every month since I'm a single mom. Next, if you find something in Walmart that's already been open or with ripped packaging, you can ask for a discount and we have to give it to you. Okay now if you comment Walmart in the comments 00:32 I'll send you a little bonus

Detailed fact-check analysis of: So now I may expose everything they love hiding from customers. First, half of the security cameras at Walmart are literally fake. I saw someone open one up and it was literally just a plastic shell. They're just there to scare you. Alright, they be hiding this but y'all really can get a seven hundred dollar Walmart gift card. If you sign up at 700 WM. com, everyone is qualified for this and I still do this every month since I'm a single mom. Next, if you find something in Walmart that's already been open or with ripped packaging, you can ask for a discount and we have to give it to you. Okay now if you comment Walmart in the comments 00:32 I'll send you a little bonus

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