Women across social media are buzzing about Tea, an anonymous dating-safety app where they ‘spill tea’ — typically gossip, secrets and juicy information — on the men they’re dating. But the app has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
Tea was founded in November 2022 by software engineer Sean Cook to help women feel more protected. He was inspired by his mom’s bad experiences with online dating — connecting with a catfish and even a criminal, he wrote on LinkedIn. The women-only platform became available for download in 2023 with features like criminal background checks and reverse image search, and it’s currently number one on the lifestyle app charts with four million users and a 4.7/5 star rating.
But recently, users have shown less interest in helping and more in shaming. Some videos on TikTok, where the app is currently trending, show women giving men “red flag” and “green flag” reviews based on personal preferences like attractiveness, personality and style, even speculating about their sexuality, finances and how many partners they’ve had.
Moreover, the app was designed to be private, as screenshots are impossible and women are vetted before being allowed access. Yet users have recorded posts for social media, opening the door for more potentially damaging, defamatory comments.
