Explained: What is the women-only Tea app, why it created controversy, and the data leak

Tea app

Tea offers women a unique way to vet dates, but the mix of anonymity, unverifiable claims, and privacy lapses raises some uncomfortable questions about accountability and digital safety.

What is the Tea app?

Tea Dating Advice, or just “Tea,” is a women-only app that’s skyrocketed to the top of the U.S. App Store. It promises to help women date more safely by offering tools to expose catfish, check for criminal records, and even spot secret marriages. Think of it as part dating intel, part group chat, and part watchdog—with a layer of AI-driven sleuthing on top.

Launched in 2023 by Sean Cook, a Bay Area tech exec whose mother was catfished, Tea aims to give women more control in the often murky world of online dating. It uses reverse image search, phone number lookups, background checks, and a sex offender map—all bundled into a single platform. One of its main draws? A massive, anonymous group chat where users can post reviews of men they’ve dated, flag red flags, and support each other.

Who can join?

Only women are allowed. To register, users must submit a username, location, date of birth, a selfie, and a photo ID. The app deletes this info post-verification, and screenshots within the app are blocked. Once approved, users can post anonymously about their experiences dating specific men—labelling them as “red flags” or “green flags.”

However, many users have complained about delays in getting approved. And if a man finds himself listed, he can request content removal—but only by emailing the support team with proof of identity.

Why is Tea controversial?

Despite its popularity, Tea has faced accusations of being “anti-men” and devolving into a platform for gossip. Critics argue it lacks accountability and could be used to spread false claims. Similar defamation lawsuits tied to Facebook-based “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” groups have already been dismissed in court, setting an uncertain precedent for Tea’s future.

What about the data breach?

Here’s where things get serious. Earlier this year, hackers accessed a legacy storage system tied to Tea, exposing around 72,000 images. That includes 13,000 selfies or ID photos submitted for verification—plus nearly 60,000 publicly shared photos from posts and chats.

Tea confirmed the breach and said it’s investigating, promising tighter security going forward. But the damage may already be done: leaked content reportedly surfaced on 4chan and other platforms, stoking fresh privacy concerns among users.