Controversial relationship security apps, Tea and Tea on Her, have been pulled from the Apple App Retailer. The apps’ removing was first noticed by the app retailer intelligence supplier Appfigures, which instructed TechCrunch the 2 apps have been faraway from the App Retailer on Tuesday in all markets, however stay reside on Google Play.
Reached for remark, Apple confirmed the apps’ removing, saying it eliminated Tea Courting Recommendation and TeaOnHer from the App Retailer as a result of they failed to fulfill Apple’s necessities round content material moderation and person privateness. The corporate additionally stated it noticed an extreme variety of person complaints and adverse evaluations, which included complaints of minors’ private info being posted in these apps.
Apple communicated the problems to the builders of the apps, a consultant stated, however the complaints weren’t addressed. (Request for remark from the app builders haven’t but been returned.)
Particularly, Apple cited violations of its App Overview Tips 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Rule 1.2 says apps with user-generated content material ought to supply reporting and blocking options, and will take away objectionable content material. Rule 5.1.2 says apps can’t use or share somebody’s private info with out permission, and 5.6 says extreme buyer stories and adverse evaluations violate Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.
Tea and TeaOnHer have generated quite a lot of headlines and curiosity since going viral earlier this 12 months. Tea, which had quietly existed since 2023 earlier than choosing up steam in 2025, was pitched as a relationship security software for ladies, considerably much like the “Are We Courting the Identical Man?” Fb Teams. The app inspired ladies to spill particulars about males, notably these on relationship apps. This included their private info, Yelp-style evaluations, and whether or not they’d dub them a “inexperienced flag” or “purple flag.”
Many males, nonetheless, didn’t admire the app’s invasion into their privateness and questioned whether or not sharing info like this may very well be thought-about defamation.
After going viral and producing controversy, Tea suffered an information breach over the summer season, with hackers having access to 72,000 pictures, together with 3,000 selfies and photograph IDs submitted for account verification, in addition to 59,000 pictures from posts, feedback, and direct messages.
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Later, a rival app referred to as TeaOnHer launched to supply males the flexibility to dish on ladies in the identical manner, but it surely was beset by safety points that uncovered customers’ private info, together with authorities IDs and selfies, TechCrunch found in August.
Appfigures says the Tea app noticed 6.1 million complete lifetime downloads and had generated $5 million in gross income to this point. TeaOnHer had 2.2 million downloads and didn’t supply in-app purchases.
With their removing, copycat apps are gaining traction. For example, an app referred to as Tea on Her & Him – Overheard has 354,000 complete downloads and has jumped from No. 90 on the General High App Charts to No. 27.
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