Social · Minimum age NGL: 18+; Sendit: 13+ with parental consent for minors
NGL / Sendit: a guide for parents
NGL (‘Not Gonna Lie’) and similar apps let users receive anonymous messages via a link shared on Instagram or Snap. They’ve been repeatedly investigated for staging fake replies and for serving as a vector for cyberbullying and sextortion.
- Policy review
- Check current official guidance
- Official minimum age
- NGL: 18; Sendit: 13 with parental consent under 18
- UK age assurance
- Not established
- These are separate services with different rules. Their terms do not demonstrate the effectiveness of age checks.
Why NGL: 18+; Sendit: 13+ with parental consent for minors?
The age limit, explained
NGL does not permit under-18s. Sendit’s operator, Iconic Hearts, sets a minimum of 13 and requires parental consent for users under 18. A platform minimum is not a recommendation that an app is suitable for every child.
Evidence
What the sources say
These sources include platform policies, research and reporting. Historical findings describe their original dates and samples. Policy descriptions and age-assurance labels are not tests of every UK account. Menus and features can vary; follow the linked current instructions.
[2] Platform policy · 2026
Sendit requires users to be at least 13, with prior parental consent for minors.
Iconic Hearts — Terms of Service
[3] Regulator · 2024
The FTC announced a 2024 settlement prohibiting NGL from offering anonymous messaging to under-18s and addressing allegedly deceptive messages and subscriptions.
Federal Trade Commission — NGL settlement announcement
Real risks
- Anonymous bullying and threats
- Fake ‘replies’ generated by the app to drive engagement
- Sextortion via anonymous messages
Settings to check tonight
- Discuss whether anonymous replies are helpful or harmful
- Remove shared question links if unwanted messages arrive
- Seek help for threats before deleting accounts or evidence
Talk, don’t confiscate
How to start the conversation
- Explain that NGL is for adults; Sendit has different rules.
- Discuss how anonymous replies can affect them. If threatened, seek help without waiting to collect evidence.
Official guides
Step-by-step settings
Video tutorials
Watch it being done
Links open YouTube in a new tab. Where a link opens search results, check the uploader and publication date before following a tutorial.
Platform controls and guidance can change. Follow the official links for current instructions; the About page explains which checks have been completed.