A new app that went viral for helping women date more safely has hit a major snag.
Tea, the women-only platform designed to crowdsource safety information about men, surged to popularity in July, hitting over 4 million users and topping Apple’s App Store, according to Complex. Marketed as a “space to safely talk about men,” the app lets women upload photos of guys, run reverse image searches, and perform background checks to identify someone as a “red flag” or “green flag” for dating.
But just as the app was hitting its stride (going viral on TikTok, especially among Gen Z), Forbes reports, a massive data breach compromised the information of thousands of users.
What Is The Tea App?
Tea isn’t a traditional dating app. Instead, it acts as a safety tool. Per Forbes, users can upload photos of men they’re talking to, search by name or phone number, and ask the community if anyone has “tea,” or gossip, about the men. It offers features such as:
- Catfish Finder AI to identify fake or stolen images
- Phone number lookup to uncover possible hidden identities
- Background checks that pull from public records
- Tea Party chats for anonymous advice, stories, or safety concerns
- Green flagging to vouch for trustworthy men — not just call out red flags
According to the outlet, only women can sign up, which is verified via selfie and government-issued ID. Tea also blocks screenshots inside the app and uses AI moderation called SafeSip to flag abusive or harmful content.
The Data Leak: 13,000 IDs And More Exposed
Despite Tea’s focus on privacy and protection, a serious cybersecurity incident has cast doubt on the app’s safety infrastructure.
According to NBC News, hackers gained access to more than 72,000 images, including 13,000 verification photos and scans of government IDs. Also included in the exposure were 59,000 images women had shared from comments, posts, and direct messages with men, which were viewable in the app, per KTLA 5. The data reportedly came from a database dating back over two years and was originally stored “in compliance with law enforcement requirements related to cyberbullying prevention,” a Tea spokesperson told NBC News.
Per the outlet, Tea confirmed the breach and says it has brought in third-party cybersecurity teams “working around the clock” to secure the system.
Users reacted swiftly online, with some calling for more transparency. Rapper Sexyy Red even weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Tea app ain’t even last a week gahlee,” followed by laughing emojis, Complex notes.
A Mission With Consequences
Although Tea’s viral growth and bold mission offer women more tools to vet potential partners, it has been met with some criticism.
Legal and privacy experts warn that the app’s format opens the door to defamation lawsuits, misuse, and revenge-posting.
“I could see some areas where this could cause people some big problems,” attorney William Barnwell told Fox 2, per Forbes, noting that while “truth is an absolute defense” in court, the potential for reputational damage remains high.
Cybersecurity expert Jake Moore of ESET told the outlet that anonymous platforms sharing “unverified accusations,” even with good intentions, can be “rife for abuse” if moderation fails.
Where It’s Available And What To Keep In Mind
Tea is currently available only in the United States, according to Forbes. Expanding to regions like the European Union may be difficult due to strict data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the outlet reports.
In a recent Instagram post addressed to “Tea App Users,” the company urged people to check its FAQ for updates and reaffirmed its mission: “to help women date safely.” Tea added, “Thank you for being part of our community built on trust, safety, and care.”
Still, users may wish to proceed with caution. Posting identifying information without consent can carry legal risks — and as this latest news shows, even platforms built on safety can become targets themselves.
