The phrase not going to lie became a common online opener in the late 2010s, shortened in text to ngl and used to introduce opinions people expect to be unpopular or surprising. This short voice version spread through meme edits, reaction videos and social posts where a spoken setup works faster than on screen text. Because the wording is generic and the delivery is neutral, editors reuse it across many topics without tying it to one show, character or event, which has helped it stay useful as a reaction staple.