These guidelines aren't written like legal rules — they're how we want this community to work. Read them like a neighbor wrote them, because in a way, one did.
The short version — everything else in these guidelines is built on these three principles.
Reviews on EchoPulse represent the personal experiences and opinions of individual users. They do not represent the views of EchoPulse. EchoPulse is a platform for sharing personal experiences and opinions. Reviews reflect the views of individual users and should not be interpreted as verified statements of fact by EchoPulse.
EchoPulse is built on a simple idea: the best local recommendations come from real people in your community — neighbors who have actually been to that restaurant, hired that plumber, or sent their kid to that summer camp.
That trust is the whole point. Without it, EchoPulse is just another app with reviews you can't believe. With it, EchoPulse becomes the most useful thing on your phone when you're trying to make a local decision.
These guidelines exist to protect that trust. They explain what we expect from everyone on EchoPulse — reviewers, merchants, and community members — and what happens when those expectations aren't met.
Three things we ask of everyone:
Every review on EchoPulse should be based on something you personally experienced. That's what makes it valuable to the person reading it.
If you haven't personally experienced it, don't review it. There's no shame in using 'No Opinion' — that's what it's there for.
The best reviews give other people the information they actually need to make a decision.
The Whisper rating you give — from Perfect to Skip This — reflects your personal experience and opinion. It is not a verified fact.
Rate what you experienced, not what you wish had happened or what someone else told you. Your rating is your voice — use it honestly.
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| You didn't personally use the service | Fake reviews destroy the trust that makes EchoPulse valuable |
| You were paid or incentivized to post | FTC regulations prohibit undisclosed incentivized reviews — this applies to you, not just the merchant |
| You're reviewing a competitor to hurt their business | This is dishonest and potentially defamatory |
| You're reviewing a friend's business to inflate their rating | Even well-intentioned fake reviews erode community trust |
| Your review includes false statements of fact | Opinions are protected — false factual claims about a business or individual are not |
| You're coordinating with others to flood a business with flags or negative reviews | Review brigading is a violation regardless of whether the target 'deserves' it |
| Not allowed | Details |
|---|---|
| Fake or incentivized reviews | Reviews not based on personal experience, or posted in exchange for payment, gifts, or discounts without disclosure |
| Defamatory statements | False statements of fact about a person or business that could damage their reputation. Opinions are fine. Made-up facts are not. |
| Harassment and personal attacks | Targeting individuals — business owners, freelancers, or other community members — with abusive, threatening, or humiliating content |
| Private personal information | Sharing someone's home address, phone number, or other private information without consent (doxxing) |
| Spam and self-promotion | Posting the same content repeatedly, unsolicited advertising, or posts designed to drive traffic rather than share a genuine review |
| Illegal content | Anything that violates applicable law, including copyright infringement, obscenity, and content that facilitates illegal activity |
| Content involving minors | No photos or identifying information about children other than your own, and only in appropriate contexts |
| Impersonation | Impersonating a business, another reviewer, or EchoPulse staff is prohibited — including creating accounts designed to look like someone else |
| Misleading content | False claims about who you are, your relationship to a business, or the nature of your experience |
Verified Businesses and Verified Freelancers have a presence on EchoPulse that gives them visibility, credibility, and the ability to respond to reviews. That comes with specific responsibilities.
Merchants who receive negative reviews are encouraged to respond professionally and constructively. A good merchant response to a bad review often builds more trust than a page of five-star ratings.
Sponsored posts are clearly labeled 'Sponsored' in the feed and are never mixed with or presented as organic community reviews. Your merchant badge remains visible on sponsored posts. Sponsored status has no influence on how your organic reviews are ranked, displayed, or moderated — these are completely separate systems.
The community flagging system is a tool for protecting content quality — not a weapon. Use it when you genuinely believe a post violates these guidelines.
The Kids & Family tab is one of EchoPulse's most important features and requires extra care. Parents are making decisions that directly affect their children's safety and wellbeing.
A bad review of a pediatrician or a summer camp can have real consequences for that provider. Make sure your review reflects what you actually experienced, and be specific enough that other parents can evaluate whether your experience is likely to be theirs.
| Action | When it's used |
|---|---|
| Post hidden from feed | Automatically at 3 community flags, pending review |
| Post removed | Confirmed guideline violation after moderator review |
| Warning issued | First-time or minor violations with no pattern of abuse |
| Post permanently removed | Content that is defamatory, harassing, illegal, or fake |
| Merchant response removed | Response that attacks a reviewer or violates merchant rules |
| Merchant verification revoked | Confirmed fake reviews, review manipulation, or harassment of reviewers |
| Account suspended | Serious or repeated violations, coordinated abuse, or legal violations |
| Account permanently removed | Severe violations, repeated abuse after warnings, or legal requirements |
Moderation decisions are made in good faith and consistent with these guidelines. EchoPulse may remove or restrict content that violates these guidelines or poses risk to the community, even if the specific violation is not explicitly listed here.
EchoPulse may prioritize moderation of content that poses risk to user safety, involves minors, or may create legal exposure.
EchoPulse may use automated systems to detect spam, abuse, or fake reviews. Automated actions may be reviewed and reversed on request — contact support@echopulseapp.com if you believe an automated action was applied incorrectly.
If you believe a moderation action was applied in error, you may contact us at support@echopulseapp.com.
If you have a question about these guidelines, want to report a violation, or believe a moderation decision was made in error:
These guidelines are a living document. As EchoPulse grows, we will update them to reflect what the community needs. Last updated: March 2026.