FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use
Anonymous messaging apps like NGL: ask me anything are attractive to curious teens eager to share unfiltered opinions or hear candid confessions from their peers. But a new order from the Federal Trade Commission highlights how such apps can be weaponized against teen users through bullying, harassment, and deception. Often marketed as free, the apps can impose a different cost, taking a toll on users' mental health. NGL, an abbreviation of the phrase "not gonna lie," knew about these and other harms, according to the FTC. On Tuesday, July 9, the agency announced that it had banned NGL labs from offering or marketing anonymous messaging apps to teens under the age of 18. It marks the first time the agency has ordered such a ban. "NGL marketed its app to kids and teens despite knowing that it was exposing them to cyberbullying and harassment,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in a statement. "In light of NGL’s reckless disregard for kids' safety, the FTC's order would ban NGL from marketing or offering its app to those under 18. We will keep cracking down on businesses that unlawfully exploit kids for profit." SEE ALSO: Teens who talk about their mental health on this app may be taking a big risk At one point, in 2022, NGL was reportedly the most downloaded in Apple's App Store, notching millions of downloads, according to the FTC. In a detailed complaint, the FTC alleged that NGL and its cofounders charged users recurrently without obtaining proper consent; falsely claimed that the app's AI content moderation screened out bullying and harassment; deceived users with fake messages to increase the number of paid subscribers; and actively marketed the app to kids despite knowing that similar services had harmed users. The complaint was filed by the FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. The defendants, which include NGL cofounders Raj Vir and Joao Figueiredo, agreed to pay $5 million to settle the case. In a statement sent to Mashable, Figueiredo said that the
FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use