A fast-rising app designed to help women share warnings about potentially harmful men has suffered a massive data breach, just days after it reached #1 on Apple’s App Store.
Tea Dating Advice, a U.S.-based app that lets women anonymously flag red flags in men they’ve dated or plan to date, exposed sensitive user data including 72,000 private images. The breach occurred during a period of skyrocketing downloads and rising public interest, igniting a major conversation around online privacy, app security, and digital dating safety.
What Is the Tea Dating App?
Launched in 2023, Tea Dating Advice is marketed as a safety tool for women navigating the online dating world. Often described as a kind of Yelp for dating, the app allows women to:
- Post anonymously about men they’ve dated
- Search criminal records or run background checks
- Use reverse image search tools to identify catfishing
- Verify other users via ID and selfies
The app’s founder, Sean Cook, says he was inspired to create it after watching his mother become a victim of online scams and catfishing.
Why Did the Tea App Go Viral?
Tea saw a viral explosion of interest this week, fueled by TikTok, Instagram, and growing conversations about gender dynamics and dating safety.
In just a few days, the app reported over 2 million new sign-ups, climbing to the top spot on Apple’s App Store and ranking highly in the Google Play Store as well.
However, the sudden popularity brought criticism. While many praised the app for protecting women, others accused it of enabling public shaming. On anonymous platforms like 4chan, some users openly called for the app to be hacked. That call was soon followed by action.
What Was Exposed in the Data Breach?
On Friday, Tea confirmed that hackers had accessed a “legacy storage system” that contained the following:
- Over 72,000 user-uploaded images
- Around 13,000 selfies and photo IDs used for female identity verification
- Media from private messages, comments, and forum posts
The company explained that these files came from users who registered before February 2024. While Tea’s privacy policy promised to delete selfies after verification, the company said older files had been retained for compliance with cyberbullying investigations and had not yet been moved to a newer server.
Where Did the Leaked Data End Up?
According to 404 Media, leaked images began appearing on 4chan, including driver’s licenses and personal selfies. One user even shared a downloadable database that reportedly included location-linked data tied to user photos.
A visual map made from this data briefly circulated online. Although its accuracy has not been confirmed, the posts were deleted shortly after going live. Unfortunately, by then, much of the content had already been downloaded or reshared.
Why App Security Matters More Than Ever?
This breach highlights how easily personal data can become exposed when apps fail to use proper encryption or secure infrastructure.
It’s not just dating apps at risk. Any mobile app that stores sensitive data, such as identity verification, photos, or location info, can be a target for hackers.
For example, even a smart garage door opener app connects your phone to your home’s physical access. If such systems are compromised, the risk moves beyond privacy concerns into the realm of personal and home security.
What Happens Next for Tea?
Tea has stated it is working with independent cybersecurity firms to fully investigate the breach. The company claims there is no evidence that other data, including newer accounts, was affected. They also noted that their new storage systems are encrypted and more secure.
However, this incident raises broader concerns about the safety of tech tools that collect highly personal data. As more people rely on mobile platforms for everything from dating to home control, users need to know their information is being protected responsibly.
The Bigger Picture: Privacy, Safety, and Responsibility
Online communities like “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” and apps like Tea have become key platforms for women trying to vet potential dates and stay safe. But they also attract criticism, especially around false accusations, defamation, and online harassment.
This growing tension between privacy, safety, and free speech is unlikely to fade anytime soon. As the digital world evolves, so will the challenges, and the need for stronger protections, better policies, and more ethical tech leadership.
