FTC Prohibits NGL App from Serving Users Under 18
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against the anonymous messaging app NGL, prohibiting it from serving users under 18. This marks the first time the agency has ordered a digital platform to cease operations for minors.
In a lawsuit filed by the FTC and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, NGL was accused of deceptively marketing to children and falsely claiming its AI-powered content moderation system could prevent cyberbullying. The app was also alleged to have engaged in deceptive practices related to its premium subscription plan, NGL Pro, as reported by Forbes.
NGL Labs, the owner of NGL, along with app co-founders Raj Vir and Joao Figueiredo, have reached a settlement with the FTC and the DA’s office. As part of the agreement, NGL will implement an age restriction and pay million.
“After nearly two years of cooperating with the FTC’s investigation, we view this resolution as an opportunity to make NGL better than ever for our users and we think the agreement is in our best interest,” Figueiredo stated in an email.
While denying some of the allegations, Figueiredo expressed optimism that the agreed-upon age-gating and other procedures will set a positive example for others in the industry.
NGL, which gained popularity among teens for its anonymous question feature, faced criticism for allowing cyberbullying and harassment to occur on its platform. The app was also accused of sending fake messages to boost engagement and misleading users into subscribing to its premium service.
The million settlement includes funds for consumer redress and a civil penalty to the DA’s office, highlighting the consequences of deceptive practices in the digital space.
