In a significant move, Apple has removed the popular women’s safety app known as Tea from its App Store following a series of alarming data breaches. Users attempting to access the app are now greeted with a message stating, “This app is currently not available in your country or region.” This action comes after numerous complaints regarding the app's failure to comply with Apple's stringent terms of use, particularly relating to content moderation and user privacy.
According to an email from Apple to 404 Media, the app was removed due to an excessive number of complaints, including serious allegations regarding the posting of personal data of minors within the app. Apple emphasized its guidelines, which prohibit apps from sharing personal data without user permission and require a reliable mechanism for reporting objectionable content. Alongside Tea, a copycat app named TeaOnHer was also taken down for similar violations.
Launched several years ago, Tea gained tremendous popularity this summer, quickly climbing to the top of the App Store. The app aimed to create a supportive community for women to share essential information and red flags about their dating experiences. Features included the ability to “find verified green flag men,” “run background checks,” and “identify potential catfish.” To ensure safety, Tea required users to upload selfies for verification, claiming to verify that each user was indeed a woman.
However, the app's newfound attention also attracted negative attention from the notorious troll and harassment forum 4chan. This group discovered a major security flaw that exposed a database containing sensitive information, including the driver’s licenses and selfies of Tea users. Shortly thereafter, 404 Media uncovered a second data breach that compromised users' direct messages, revealing discussions on sensitive topics such as abortions and cheating. Following this breach, Tea disabled its direct messaging feature entirely, leading to a class action lawsuit filed by a concerned user.
Despite the serious data breaches, Tea managed to expand its user base significantly. In a statement to 404 Media, the app's representatives highlighted their growth trajectory. An in-depth investigation by 404 Media also revealed troubling practices involving Tea's CEO and founder, Sean Cook. The investigation disclosed that the app attempted to undermine the established Are We Dating the Same Guy community, a network of Facebook pages known for promoting women’s safety. Tea went so far as to pay influencers to disparage the community while creating competing Facebook pages with similar names.
Further investigation revealed a third security breach that compromised the personal data of women who were compensated to promote the app through an affiliate program. While Tea has been removed from the Apple App Store, it remains available on the Google Play Store. Interestingly, several other copycat apps that incorporate “tea” in their names and promote similar features continue to operate on the App Store.
As of Wednesday, Tea continues to engage with its audience on social media platforms, including Instagram. The latest post, shared approximately 13 hours ago, describes Tea as “The first ever girls-only space that truly amplifies women’s voices and gives them an anonymous space to share their experiences, find comfort, and get the info they need on the man they’re talking to, in the name of DATING SAFETY💜.” However, one user commented simply, “App is gone,” highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding the app's future.
In conclusion, the removal of the Tea app from the Apple App Store underscores the critical importance of user privacy and data security in today’s app ecosystem. As the landscape of women’s safety apps continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Tea will navigate these challenges moving forward.
Update: This article has been updated to include additional information from Apple regarding the removal of the app.
