The Tea Dating Advice app, commonly referred to as “the tea app,” has been removed from the Apple App Store due to concerns over privacy and content moderation. This decision comes after the app, which enables women to anonymously review men, gained popularity over the summer and prompted considerable discussion about its implications in the realm of modern dating.
In addition to Tea Dating Advice, the alternative app TeaOnHer, aimed at men, was also taken down by Apple on October 21. This action was confirmed by app analytics firm Appfigures. An Apple spokesperson cited the removal was due to failure to meet requirements concerning user privacy and content moderation, along with receiving significant complaints about the misuse of user data, particularly involving minors’ personal information.
Earlier in the summer, Tea Dating Advice had suffered a data breach that impacted approximately 72,000 images, including sensitive user information such as selfies and driver’s licenses, leading to legal action against the company. Despite some attempts to enhance security and privacy features, issues persisted, resulting in Apple expressing its intention to communicate with the app developers regarding these matters before ultimately deciding to remove the apps.
Meanwhile, the developer of TeaOnHer expressed disappointment over the removal, stating that efforts had been made to implement safety measures requested by Apple. Notably, the company introduced advanced AI content filtering, manual moderation teams, and anti-cyberbullying protocols to improve the app’s safety profile.
Interestingly, while both apps are no longer available for new downloads on the App Store, users who previously downloaded them report continued access. In contrast to these developments, another app, Tea On Her & Him—Overheard, has emerged as the top lifestyle app in the App Store, suggesting a continuing interest in dating applications despite the setbacks faced by Tea and TeaOnHer.
As the landscape of dating apps continues to evolve, it highlights the necessity for robust measures to protect user data and ensure responsible content management in order to sustain user trust and safety.