Gay Men Flocked to Goose for Friendship. Some Still Feel Excluded

Despite positioning itself as an anti-hookup app, users tell WIRED that Goose has fake profiles, harsh acceptance standards, and problems with inclusivity. When Erick Hall heard that Goose, a new "anti-algorithm" dating app, was less focused on hookups, he was drawn to its mission. The New York City -based OnlyFans creator, who has over 800,000 followers on X, explains he has to hook up "all the time" for work. Because Goose was marketing itself as an alternative to that, he was curious what it had to offer. During the sign-up process he chose a few selfies where he was fully clothed; in one, wearing a black shirt, a baseball cap, and blue jeans, he pulled his shirt upward showing off his abs.