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| Screenshot/TeaOnHer/Apple |
The viral dating “review” app Tea, which allows women to post anonymously about men, now has a gender-reversed counterpart and it’s already climbing Apple’s App Store charts.
TeaOnHer, launched earlier this month, flips the concept by allowing men to post anonymous reviews about women. But despite quickly landing in the No. 3 spot for free apps right behind Tea at No. 2 and ChatGPT at No. 1 the newcomer is facing a wave of criticism, low ratings, and alarming security issues.
A Copycat App With a Twist
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| Two different "Tea" apps trail behind ChatGPT on Apple's App Store this week. Screenshot/Apple iOS App Store |
TeaOnHer is nearly identical in format and description to the original Tea app (officially called Tea Dating Advice). Both apps bill themselves as “essential safety companions,” claiming to help users “identify red flags” by allowing posts that are anonymous or under pseudonyms.
Sensor Tower data shows TeaOnHer has been downloaded over 165,000 times since its debut, a rapid rise that mirrors Tea’s own early surge in popularity. But unlike Tea’s solid 4.6-star rating, TeaOnHer has struggled with an average score of just 2.0.
Early Success Overshadowed by Security Breaches
The app’s rise has already been overshadowed by serious security concerns. Security researcher Kasra Rahjerdi discovered a flaw in TeaOnHer’s publicly accessible API, which exposed sensitive content from user posts including images of women and reviews shared by men.
TechCrunch reporters identified a separate vulnerability that allegedly allowed anyone to access users’ verification selfies, driver’s licenses, usernames, and email addresses. Truth Sider was unable to independently verify this flaw, but the similarities to past breaches in the original Tea app are hard to ignore.
When reached for comment, TeaOnHer and its listed CEO, Xavier Lampkin of Newville Media Corporation, did not respond.
A Pattern of Privacy Failures
The original Tea app experienced a major data breach just last week, exposing around 72,000 images, including selfies, driver’s licenses, and even private messages. The fallout was swift, with lawsuits filed by affected users. Tea confirmed the breach and pledged to offer free identity protection services to those impacted.
These incidents highlight a growing risk in the world of anonymous dating apps. Despite promises of privacy, experts warn that anonymity is not the same as security.
“Every single one of these apps promise privacy, promise anonymity, promise secrecy, and so forth, but they’re ultimately still applications they still have to authenticate users,” said Tom Tovar, CEO of app security firm Appdome. “Anonymity does not equal security.”
The Bigger Picture: Viral Apps, Real-World Risks
The appeal of apps like Tea and TeaOnHer lies in their promise of transparency and safety in dating. But their rapid growth and repeated exposure of highly sensitive personal data raises serious questions about whether these platforms can deliver on that promise.
With public trust already shaken, the latest breach reports could be a turning point for TeaOnHer. Unless the developers address security flaws quickly and transparently, the app risks becoming another cautionary tale in the fast-moving, high-stakes world of viral tech.
