Apple has quietly taken down two fast-growing but highly controversial dating apps, Tea and TeaOnHer, after weeks of user complaints and privacy concerns. The removal, first spotted by analytics firm Appfigures, happened earlier this week across all global App Store markets. Both apps remain available on Google Play, at least for now.
Why Apple Stepped In
In a statement, Apple confirmed the decision, saying both apps failed to meet its standards for content moderation and user privacy. According to the company, the apps drew an unusual number of negative reviews and user reports, including some claiming that minors’ personal information had appeared within posts.
Apple said it reached out to the developers about the issues, but no meaningful fixes followed. Requests for comment from the creators of Tea and TeaOnHer haven’t been returned.
The iPhone maker cited violations of several specific App Review Guidelines:
- 1.2 – Apps with user-generated content must include tools to report and block material and must remove anything inappropriate.
- 5.1.2 – Personal data can’t be collected or shared without clear consent.
- 5.6 – Excessive customer complaints or poor ratings may trigger a developer-conduct violation.
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From “Dating Safety” to Public Backlash
Tea, which quietly launched in 2023, became a viral hit earlier this year. Marketed as a dating safety app for women, it allowed users to post details about men they had met online — names, photos, screenshots, and personal impressions — marking them as “green flag” or “red flag.”
For many, it felt empowering. For others, invasive. Critics argued the app encouraged public shaming and defamation, exposing personal information without proof or permission.
The situation worsened when hackers breached Tea’s database over the summer. Roughly 72,000 images were leaked, including photo IDs, selfies, and pictures from private chats — a disaster that further fueled concerns about data security.
The Rise and Fall of TeaOnHer
Soon after Tea’s success, a rival called TeaOnHer appeared, branding itself as the “male version.” The concept mirrored Tea almost exactly, inviting men to post similar reviews about women.
That app didn’t fare much better. In August, TechCrunch reported that TeaOnHer suffered a data exposure of its own, leaking government IDs, selfies, and personal details from users’ verification systems.
Despite these controversies, both apps were surprisingly profitable. According to Appfigures, Tea generated $5 million in gross revenue from 6.1 million downloads, while TeaOnHer reached 2.2 million installs before being pulled.
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New Copycats Take Their Place
Removing the originals hasn’t stopped the trend. A new spin-off, TeaOnHer and Him – Overheard, has surged in popularity since Apple’s takedown. It now sits at No. 27 on Apple’s Overall Top App Charts, up from No. 90, and has logged more than 350,000 total downloads.
The case of Tea and its imitators raises the issue of the balance between online accountability and digital defamation. The alley of gossip, screenshots, and personal revelations is a space of privacy that Apple, with its strict privacy measures, is designing an interface to disregard. The increasing number of copycats suggests that there is still a high appetite for such platforms.
