The Tea Dating Advice app, a safety tool for women that allows background checks on men and the anonymous reporting of concerning behaviors, has fallen victim to a hacking incident that compromised thousands of images and posts. With a user base of 1.6 million, the app reported that unauthorized access resulted in the exposure of about 72,000 photographs contributed by female users. This includes selfies where women presented identification for verification, something that Tea’s privacy guidelines guarantee would be deleted immediately after authentication.
The breach reportedly affects users who registered before February 2024, prompting the company to ensure that it promptly activated security measures in collaboration with trusted cybersecurity experts. The app has gained traction but also faced backlash, primarily from critics labeling it as anti-male. Tea empowers women to discern potential partners' statuses — checking if they are married or registered offenders — and provides tools to combat “catfishing” through reverse image searches.
A controversial facet of Tea allows women to exchange information on men they've dated to signal “red flags” or highlight “green flag” traits. The company claims that the hacked images "cannot be linked to posts within Tea" and employs screenshot-blocking technology to prevent content sharing beyond the app.
Moreover, on Friday, Tea disclosed that an additional 59,000 images including posts, comments, and direct messages from the last two years were also breached. The company asserted, “We're taking every step to protect this community - now and always."
Tea was established in November 2022 by Sean Cook, a software engineer motivated to enhance safety on dating platforms after observing his mother's experiences in the online dating landscape. Cook emphasized the ease with which scammers and malicious individuals exploit women, criticizing traditional apps for lacking adequate user protection.
This breach has heightened scrutiny over apps like Tea, as it raises critical questions about privacy and potential defamation. Earlier this year, Nikko D’Ambrosio took legal action against Meta, claiming defamation tied to a dating chat group, although a federal judge dismissed the case. This incident at Tea further highlights the ongoing risks users face in the digital dating space.
