Tea App, a Safe Space for Women, Suffers Major Data Breach
Published On: July 28, 2025.
The app Tea, which was initially designed as a virtual "whisper network" for women, has recently become embroiled in a massive data breach that has put the personal information of millions of users at risk.
Originally, the app’s goal was to offer women a space where they could share anonymous opinions about men, uploading photos and providing detailed commentary on their experiences. Users could describe men as “red flags” or “green flags,” essentially creating a digital catalog of potential dates with feedback ranging from harmless critiques to more serious warnings. Tea has also claimed to donate 10% of its profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an apparent effort to align itself with legitimate causes and show support for victims of domestic abuse.
This concept resonated strongly with women looking for an outlet to warn others about toxic or abusive behavior without facing judgment or retaliation. Over time, Tea grew in popularity, reaching the top of the Apple App Store's free app charts. The app's success has drawn significant attention, both positive and negative, with some users praising it as an essential tool for women seeking to navigate the often dangerous world of dating, while others have criticized it for fostering a toxic culture of public shaming.
To sign up, Tea requires users to submit selfies for verification, claiming that they are deleted after being reviewed. This process is designed to ensure that only women can access the platform, with the app promising full anonymity for users, apart from their chosen usernames. The platform also claims to have features like blocking screenshots to ensure that nothing from within the app is shared outside of it.
However, this sense of security was shattered when a hacker accessed a database containing sensitive information from over two years ago. Tea confirmed that this data had originally been stored in compliance with law enforcement regulations related to cyberbullying prevention. Yet, that technicality offers little comfort to the users whose personal data has now been exposed. The hacker accessed a database of stolen images and user identification photos, which were later leaked on notorious platforms like 4Chan and X. These leaked photos and data have caused a significant uproar, especially among the men featured on the platform.
The breach has sparked backlash, particularly from a contingent of angry men who feel they’ve been unfairly targeted. A thread on 4Chan, a well-known hub for online trolls, included calls for a "hack and leak" campaign to retaliate against Tea and its users. By Friday morning, links to the stolen database began circulating, and images from the hack were being posted in large quantities. Some users on the platform have raised valid concerns about the app's ability to protect its users' data, fearing that their involvement in Tea could lead to harmful cyberbullying campaigns or worse, public shaming. And for men who’ve been caught up in the app’s system, there’s an additional worry of being misrepresented, having their privacy violated, or facing potential doxxing.
Compounding the issues, the app has recently become a target for a small but vocal segment of online users who want to create a men-only version of Tea as a form of "payback." One such app, called Teaborn, attempted to launch but quickly garnered backlash after its creator was accused of promoting revenge porn. The app was subsequently removed from the App Store. Yet, the idea of retaliating with similar platforms continues to circulate online.
Meanwhile, a user has created a map on Google Maps that allegedly shows the locations of Tea users affected by the hack. The map does not include any names but has nevertheless further fueled the fear and outrage surrounding the app’s breach. It's a stark reminder that, even in a world where women have long fought for safer spaces, digital platforms that promise protection and anonymity can fall short of their promises, leaving users exposed and vulnerable.
While Tea markets itself with the slogan, "women should never have to compromise their safety while dating," this breach has clearly exposed the fragility of that promise. The platform has attracted over two million users in the past few days alone, many of them women looking to avoid dangerous dating situations or to share their experiences safely. However, the app's inability to protect sensitive data calls into question whether it can truly live up to its mission.