Many people may recall the sudden cultural phenomenon that unfolded during the summer, when social media and online communities buzzed with conversation about an app called Tea. That short-lived but remarkably viral application, which swiftly became a topic of fascination as well as controversy, has now disappeared from Apple’s iOS App Store. The decision came after Apple determined that the software no longer met the company’s high standards for user safety and regulatory compliance.
The platform in question—formally known by its full name, Tea Dating Advice—allowed female users to post unfiltered, anonymous assessments and reviews of men they had dated or interacted with. This seemingly simple premise ignited a heated discourse surrounding personal privacy, data security, and the ethics of modern online dating in an era when reputations can be shaped by crowd-sourced commentary. Despite the criticism, Tea rapidly gained momentum throughout July, drawing in tens of thousands of users and solidifying its position as one of the most controversial social apps of the season.
As Tea’s visibility skyrocketed, a wave of imitations soon appeared. Among the most notable was a counterpart addressed to men, known as TeaOnHer, which mirrored the idea but reversed the gender dynamics. That app experienced its own viral moment in August, briefly achieving impressive popularity before facing similar scrutiny. According to data compiled by the analytics firm Appfigures, both Tea and TeaOnHer were officially removed from Apple’s App Store on October 21.
When asked to comment, a representative from Apple explained to Business Insider that the removal was not a sudden or impulsive action but rather the conclusion of an extensive review process. According to Apple’s spokesperson, both applications failed to meet the company’s requirements regarding content moderation, user privacy, and the handling of personal information. The spokesperson further emphasized that these failures were compounded by an unusually high volume of user complaints, negative reviews, and distressing reports—some alleging that minors’ private information had been shared on the platforms. Apple, which positions itself as a strong advocate for user trust and safety, noted that its standard procedure in such cases is to contact developers directly and collaborate with them to correct identified deficiencies. In the case of Tea and TeaOnHer, the spokesperson said, Apple had engaged in repeated communications with the development teams; nevertheless, the same privacy and safety problems persisted, ultimately necessitating removal.
Representatives for Tea Dating Advice did not respond to Business Insider’s requests for comment. However, the company had previously admitted, at the end of July, that it had suffered a significant security incident—a data breach that compromised approximately 72,000 images. These files reportedly included user selfies and scans of driver’s licenses used for identity verification. The breach also allowed unauthorized access to some private messages exchanged within the app, amplifying public concern and leading to multiple lawsuits against the company. Scott Cole, the lead attorney in one of the resulting legal actions, told Business Insider that he did not believe Tea’s creators had deliberately sought to infringe on anyone’s privacy rights, but instead suggested that their internal security practices were careless, describing their approach as “sloppy.”
TeaOnHer, the spin-off platform, also encountered its own security misstep. In August, its founder, Xavier Lampkin, acknowledged via email that the app’s application programming interface (API) documentation endpoints were briefly exposed because of a configuration error. During that limited window, the technology publication TechCrunch confirmed that it had been able to view certain pieces of user data, prompting Lampkin to act swiftly. He stated that TechCrunch was the only outside party to access the vulnerability and that his team resolved the issue within roughly an hour of being notified.
Further scrutiny came from the cybersecurity research community. In August, independent researcher Kasra Rahjerdi informed Business Insider that he had been able to observe some user posts directly through the app’s publicly accessible API. By October, the same API remained open, though Lampkin clarified that this accessibility was not accidental but an intentional feature meant to promote transparency and user safety by keeping aspects of the platform visible to oversight. The debate over whether such openness genuinely enhances trust or creates further risk remains unresolved.
Business Insider reached out to Google to inquire whether the tech giant planned to review or potentially remove Tea and TeaOnHer from its Play Store, but Google did not immediately respond. Meanwhile, Lampkin expressed both disappointment and frustration regarding Apple’s removal decision. He contended that his team had already implemented extensive safeguards and advanced administrative features designed to prevent harmful content and protect vulnerable users. These included artificial intelligence–driven content filters containing a database of over two thousand prohibited terms, a dedicated human moderation team that reviewed flagged posts manually, systems intended to shield minors from exploitation, and advanced anti-cyberbullying tools. Lampkin noted that his company had gone through more than twenty rounds of official feedback with Apple’s review team, introducing every moderation measure requested and removing thousands of objectionable posts daily to preserve integrity.
Despite the delisting, some users reported on October 22 that both Tea and TeaOnHer continued to function if they had been downloaded prior to their removal. Interestingly, as the controversy continued to unfold, a new and similarly themed app—Tea On Her & Him: Overheard—rose to prominence, becoming the top-ranked application in Apple’s lifestyle category. The ongoing popularity of these platforms, despite corporate restrictions, underscores the tension between digital innovation and the imperative for ethical responsibility in today’s social app ecosystem.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/app-store-remove-viral-tea-dating-apps-over-privacy-violations-2025-10
