The Tea app launched in 2023, quickly gaining popularity once other social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram and X, helped fuel the fire, sparking conversation about the platform. Tea allows users to leave comments about men and leave them with either a green or red flag—a “yelp review” of sorts. 

The app emerged at a time when online dating had become both the norm and a source of anxiety for many women. From ghosting to catfishing to secret felons, the modern dating scene has many ways it can lead someone. The Tea app claims to aid this issue. 

Because of the app’s ever-growing popularity, an influx of users attempting to sign up caused the Tea app team to add a waiting list to get into the platform. To join the waiting list, women have to submit a selfie, which is then verified by the app’s team. This app is supposed to be a women-only app; however, there have been multiple accounts of men being able to make it onto the platform, or other women sharing the reviews with the reviewed. 

When approved by the app’s team, users have the ability to post “Man,” “Advice,” “Meme,” “Poll,” and or “Audio.” The most prominent feature is the “Man” feature. This app has raised a lot of concerns about privacy for both the user and the individuals being posted to the app.

For some women, the app has become a safe space to warn other women about the harmful behaviors of specific men in their area, as intended. For others, it crosses a line, where they believe certain individuals have taken advantage of the platform, turning personal relationships into public entertainment.

“I think it’s kinda stupid, it seems to be a breach of privacy because no one can consent to being posted on it,” said Olivia Sanchez, a sophomore education major. 

When considering the multiple data breaches the app has had, with users’ selfies and driver’s licenses being uploaded on foreign websites, users have questioned the ethicality of the app. The team has attempted to address both concerns for users and the individuals posted. To fight privacy concerns, the team has since removed the need to upload a driver’s license and displays a pop-up with the posting rules each time a user tries to post “Man.” If these rules are violated, the app threatens its ability to ban any user’s account. 

The posting rules are as follows: “No last names, no contact information, no sensitive personal data, no social media handles, no bullying, no harmful content, no posting women, no posting men under 18, and all statements must be true.” 

“It’s a childish way to comment on boys as an anonymous writer … with the majority being female but the possibility of them being male too,” said Oguer Nunez, a sophomore marketing major. 

This begs the question: Does the anonymity of the app leave users fearless about what to post? There are no consequences to lying and no way to essentially know when someone is telling the truth in the comment section of the post.

“It’s alright, cause I wouldn’t be on it. I personally think it’s a platform created and used because people were bored,” said Aidan O’Loughlin, a sophomore engineering major. 

Just two of the many concerns raised are, “Are the app rules actually enforced?” and “Why was the app made in the first place?”

The first question cannot be answered so easily. Like many viral apps, Tea grew faster than its creators could manage. What started as a small community-based safety app turned into a national talking point about ethics, privacy, and online gossip. It is likely that the software and the team were not prepared for it all. There have been accounts of men being able to make it onto the platform, defeating the purpose of the app. There have also been accounts of women being posted, as well as sensitive information being shared in the comments of the reviews.

This leads to the second concern, which can be answered by the founder, Sean Cook. He described his reasoning for launching Tea was after “witnessing his mother’s terrifying experience with online dating, not only being catfished but unknowingly engaging with men who had criminal records.” He knew he wanted to do something.

While the app is meant to protect women from getting into dangerous positions with dangerous men, there’s been a lot of discourse on whether or not the app is more harmful or more helpful. 

“I feel like there are no positives to the app. I think it’s an unfair evaluation of people. It is unfair to be judged on a social media platform,” said Dominic Gordon, a sophomore communications major. 

In the end, Tea walks a fine line between protection and invasion. For some, it’s a digital word-of-mouth system that could spare someone a dangerous encounter. For others, it’s an app built on rumor and revenge. As the lines between gossip and accountability blur, one thing is clear. Tea has tapped into something bigger than itself. 

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