Why Is Everyone Using NGL on Instagram?
Since it’s my thing now to introduce trendy new apps like BeReal and Dimensional , it’s important to let you know about NGL, an app that connects to your Instagram account and allows people to send you completely anonymous messages.
What is NGL?
NGL is the latest in a long line of anonymous messaging services like Formspring and YikYak . If you’ve ever been on Tumblr, you’ll remember the ability to send anonymous messages to other users (and the total chaos that followed). There have also been many reasonable concerns about the potential for misuse that comes with the anonymity of these apps’ signatures, such as bullying and harassment.
So NGL isn’t new — it’s just new to Instagram , having appeared there after Snapchat suspended rival apps Yolo and LMK last year after all three organizations were sued by the mother of a teenager who allegedly committed suicide. after receiving anonymous ridicule. in Snapchat. The anonymous messaging trend has just migrated from Snap to Instagram.
How do you use NGL?
The application interface is simple. You download it – it’s available on both Apple and Android – and enter your Instagram username. The app gives you a unique URL that you then share in your story, which is possible now because last fall, Instagram gave every user the ability to share links in stories . NGL even creates a graphic template to make it easier to work with. From there, anyone who views your story or receives your link can send an anonymous message without having to download the app themselves.
How anonymous is NGL?
In order to reply to a message, you need to share it again in your story, which means that anyone who views your story can read it. This works much like Instagram’s built-in Questions feature, where users can type in a box in response to a question, and the original author can share the answers for everyone to see. However, when using questions, the original poster can see who submitted each answer, although story viewers won’t. NGL eliminates this by making the sender of each response completely anonymous.
You can change the prompt that a person sees when they click on your link, but only to a pre-written one, such as “send me anonymous messages!” or “submit a name to bid.” If the second doesn’t make sense to you, you may be too old for this. Other prompts include: “Truth or dare, I’ll do it to death” and “Fill my inbox if you’re real” with the evocative water drop emoji thrown in for good measure.
What kind of questions do people get on NGL?
When I uploaded NGL last week, I knew I was completely outdated from a period in my life when it was appropriate to request anonymous comments on the Internet, if it ever was appropriate. However, I insisted, but accidentally set the “submit name for evaluation” prompt. Fortunately, my subscribers ignored it. Unfortunately, they were quick to urge me to “create OnlyFans” and asked me a bunch of extremely aggressive questions.
I sent my link again asking them to clean up and be nice. I offered to give advice or something like that. Soon after, I received a number of specific compliments and a few vague requests for advice. I answered one question, mostly because I found it funny to continue participating in something so embarrassing, and didn’t write any compliments because it felt humiliating and unjustified. In the meantime, my friends have posted all their messages and I have carefully read each of them.
After you reply to a message by posting it, a green check mark will appear in your app’s inbox. Unread messages differ in color from read ones. Color coding is simple but useful if you’re worried about missing a message or accidentally sharing it twice.
Should I download NGL?
The cons may outweigh the pros. There is potential for abuse (although I sent a very NSFW message to my friend to check the filters and she said she never received it) and an equally strong potential for outright embarrassment. To be clear, begging for an anonymous review is pretty humiliating, even if you’re doing it in a flashy new app.
However, it can be fun. It was nice to read the cute things people had to say. It was funny to see how many people used him in the same way we used his college predecessors, hinting at who they are or that they are low-stakes sex pests. (If you’re desperate to see who sent something, you can pay $9.99 for a “professional” subscription that gives you “hints” about a person’s device model or general location.)
NGL can also come in handy on a more practical level: Instagram’s Questions feature includes usernames, but NGL can be used to solicit feedback on more sensitive topics, which can lead to better (or more honest) answers. Also, there are many more characters in NGL than in the “Questions” box.
If any of this sounds good to you for any reason, go ahead and get the app. You can tell me all about it on Instagram @ellefs0n. Here is my NGL link .