YOLO / NGL

Significant Risk

YOLO and NGL (and similar apps like Sendit and LMK) let users collect anonymous questions or messages through links shared on Snapchat or Instagram. While framed as fun Q&As, the anonymity often leads to cruel comments, sexual harassment and bullying. YOLO and LMK lost their Snapchat connection in 2021 after a lawsuit over a teen's suicide, and YOLO is discontinued. A 2024 FTC order bans NGL from serving anyone under 18 and the App Store now rates it 18+, but Sendit is still rated 13+ and is facing its own FTC lawsuit.

Consider removing or heavily restricting this app.

Why Anonymous Question Apps Are Harmful

Apps like YOLO, NGL, Sendit, and ASKfm let people send anonymous messages or questions to users. While marketed as fun ways to get compliments or play games, they often go badly.

What Actually Happens

Without accountability, people send:

Cruel insults about appearance, popularity, relationships
Sexual harassment and inappropriate questions
Rumors and lies that can damage reputations
Threats and intimidation
"Jokes" that are actually bullying

And some messages aren't from real people at all: both the FTC's NGL order and its Sendit lawsuit describe fake, computer-generated messages used to push kids toward paid subscriptions that promise to reveal who sent them.

The Mental Health Impact

Anonymous messaging can bring:

Anxiety - Constantly wondering what people really think
Compulsive checking - Looking again and again for new messages
Low mood - Negative messages hit harder than positive ones help
Self-doubt - "Everyone thinks this about me"
Isolation - Feeling attacked by people they can't see

Lawsuits and Regulators

In 2021, the family of an Oregon teen who died by suicide after months of anonymous bullying sued the makers of YOLO and LMK. Snapchat cut both apps off, and in 2022 it banned anonymous messaging apps from connecting to Snapchat. YOLO is now discontinued.

In July 2024, the FTC and Los Angeles District Attorney took action against NGL for:

Marketing to children and teens despite known cyberbullying risks
Sending fake computer-generated messages to trick users into paid subscriptions
Falsely claiming its AI moderation filtered out cyberbullying

The order required NGL to pay $5 million and bars it from offering the app to anyone under 18; the App Store now rates NGL 18+. In September 2025, the FTC sued Sendit's operator over similar fake messages and over collecting data from children under 13. Sendit is still on the App Store rated 13+, so the risk hasn't gone away.

What To Do

Talk about the harm - Explain how anonymous messaging enables cruelty
Watch for mood changes - After receiving messages
If your child is upset - Remove the app
Check subscriptions - Look for weekly charges in the App Store or Google Play
Document harassment - Screenshot severe messages
Report to school - If classmates are involved
Consider reporting to police - For threats or severe harassment

Documented Incidents

CyberbullyingMay 2021

YOLO and LMK Suspended by Snapchat After Lawsuit Over Teen's Suicide

The mother of an Oregon teen who died by suicide in 2020 sued the makers of YOLO and LMK, alleging months of anonymous bullying through the apps. Snap suspended both apps' Snapchat integrations, and in 2022 banned anonymous messaging apps from connecting to Snapchat.

Source: Engadget

CyberbullyingJul 2024

FTC Bans NGL From Serving Users Under 18

The FTC and Los Angeles DA ordered NGL to pay $5 million and banned it from offering the app to anyone under 18, alleging it marketed to kids, sent fake computer-generated messages to drive paid subscriptions, and falsely claimed its AI moderation filtered out cyberbullying.

Source: FTC

CyberbullyingSep 2025

FTC Sues Sendit Over Children's Data and Fake Messages

The FTC alleged that Sendit's operator collected personal data from more than 116,000 users who said they were under 13 without parental consent, sent fake and often sexual messages to push users toward paid subscriptions, and falsely promised that its $9.99-a-week Diamond Membership would reveal who sent messages. The case is ongoing.

Source: FTC

App Information

Age Rating

NGL 18+, Sendit 13+

Platforms

iOSAndroid

Similar Apps

NGLSenditLMKTellonymASKfm

Checked October 2026

Key Risks

•Anonymous cyberbullying
•No accountability for cruel messages
•Sexual harassment
•Fake messages used to sell paid 'reveal' subscriptions
•Creates anxiety waiting for messages
•Often targets vulnerable kids

Warning Signs

•Child posts 'send me anonymous questions' on social media
•Mood changes after receiving messages
•Anxiety about checking phone
•Reluctance to talk about messages received
•Weekly charges for a 'Pro' or 'Diamond' subscription

What Parents Can Do

✓Talk about why anonymous messaging invites cruelty
✓If your child is upset by messages, remove the app
✓Watch for signs of cyberbullying
✓Check for recurring subscriptions in the App Store or Google Play
✓Report severe harassment to school/authorities

Safer Alternatives

→Direct messaging with known friends