When Erick Hall heard about Goose, an “anti-algorithm” dating app focused on friendship rather than hookups, he was intrigued. However, his excitement quickly turned to disappointment when his account got flagged as inappropriate after uploading a shirtless selfie.

The app’s inconsistent moderation and questionable marketing tactics have left many users feeling excluded and frustrated. Despite its claim of inclusivity, Goose seems to cater more towards a specific aesthetic, failing to attract people of colour or those outside the masculine norm.

Users like Hunter Lawrence joined with hopes for genuine connections but found that casual interactions were still prevalent. Meanwhile, others complained about fake profiles masquerading as real users and a skewed representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in their local areas.

The co-founder Derek Chadwick insists that Goose is not exclusionary and was built to break free from traditional dating app filters. However, its current implementation leaves much to be desired, prompting questions about genuine intent behind such platforms.