What Is the Tea App?
Tea app is a viral new built exclusively for women in the U.S. that combines dating safety, user reviews, and AI-powered verification into one controversial platform.
Launched in 2023 by Bay Area tech executive Sean Cook, the app was inspired by his mother’s experience of being catfished online. Tea quickly rose to prominence and, according to SensorTower.com, became the most downloaded free app in the U.S.
App Store and the #1 lifestyle app.
🚨 What Does the Tea App Do?
Tea’s mission is to give women “the tools they need to date safely.” It allows users to anonymously share red or green flag reviews about men they’ve dated, creating a user-generated safety net for online dating.
Key features include:
- AI-powered reverse image search to detect catfished photos
- Phone number lookups to uncover hidden marriages or duplicate profiles
- Criminal record checks and a map of registered sex offenders
- Anonymous group chats — Tea claims to host the largest women’s-only group chat in the U.S.
- Screenshot blocking and anonymous usernames for privacy
Though many of these tools are available from public sources, Tea integrates them into a single user-friendly platform for women.
👩💻 Who Can Use the App?
Only verified women are allowed to access Tea. Sign-up requires:
- A username, photo, and location
- Date of birth
- Official photo ID for gender and identity verification
Once approved, users can comment about men anonymously. Screenshots inside the app are blocked, and all verification photos are deleted after review. Tea promises complete anonymity within the platform.
However, according to Instagram comments, approval may take days, and some users face delays or rejection.
Men cannot use Tea, but those mentioned in posts can request takedowns by emailing the support team with relevant identification and context.
⚠️ Why Is Tea Facing Backlash?
Despite its rapid growth—Tea claimed 4+ million women in its community in 2025—the app has come under scrutiny:
- Allegations of “man-shaming”: Critics argue that the app could be used to spread gossip, misinformation, or false accusations without due process.
- Privacy concerns: Posts on forums like r/MensRights label Tea as “toxic” or “one-sided.”
- Legal concerns: Legal experts warn that men falsely portrayed could seek civil action for defamation or loss of reputation.
- Ethical dilemmas: Articles in Dazed and The Times highlight the potential for doxxing or harassment.
A men-only counterpart app, Cheeky, has launched in response. However, similar male-focused platforms like Teaborn were removed after users were found to be posting revenge content, prompting further ethical debate.
🔓 What Happened in the Tea App Data Breach?
In mid-2025, Tea suffered a significant data breach, exposing:
- 13,000+ ID verification selfies
- 59,000+ public images from user posts, DMs, and comments
- 72,000+ total images compromised from a legacy database
The leak was reportedly first posted on 4chan and has circulated across platforms. Tea confirmed the breach involved data prior to February 2024 and affected legacy systems, not the current app infrastructure.
Tea responded by launching a full security audit, promising to enhance user data protections moving forward.
🛡️ “Protecting our users’ privacy is our highest priority,” said Tea in a statement. “We are taking every step to ensure this never happens again.”
🧭 Final Thoughts: A Needed Tool or a Risky Platform?
Tea taps into a real need: online dating safety for women. With catfishing, ghosting, romance scams, and hidden histories on the rise, platforms like Tea serve as a warning system powered by community insight and AI.
But with power comes risk. From ethical gray areas to legal implications and privacy concerns, Tea walks a fine line between protection and potential harm.
As dating apps evolve in the age of AI, transparency, security, and accountability will be key—not just features, but ethical frameworks that ensure safety for all.
✍️ Author Bio
Anish Khan is a tech and AI journalist at TechBoltX, where he covers the future of dating apps, online safety, and digital ethics. With a background in cybersecurity and product analytics, Anish breaks down tech with clarity and credibility.