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 advised TechCrunch the 2 apps have been faraway from the App Retailer on Tuesday in all markets, however stay reside on Google Play.
Apple confirmed the apps’ removing to TechCrunch, saying it eliminated the Tea Relationship Recommendation and TeaOnHer apps from the App Retailer as they failed to satisfy Apple’s necessities round content material moderation and consumer privateness. The corporate additionally mentioned it noticed an extreme variety of consumer complaints and detrimental evaluations, which included complaints of minors’ private info being posted in these apps.
Apple mentioned it communicated the problems to the builders of the apps, however they weren’t addressed. (Request for remark from the app builders haven’t but been returned.)
Particularly, Apple cited violations of its App Assessment Tips 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Rule 1.2 says apps with user-generated content material ought to provide reporting and blocking options, and may 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 detrimental evaluations violate Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.
The relationship companion apps generated numerous headlines and curiosity since going viral earlier this yr. Tea, which had quietly existed since 2023 earlier than selecting up steam in 2025, was pitched as a relationship security device for girls, considerably much like the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” Facebook Groups. The app inspired ladies to spill particulars about males, significantly 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.”
The concept was to assist ladies keep away from potential poisonous males or abusers. Many males, nonetheless, didn’t recognize the app’s invasion into their privateness and questioned whether or not sharing info like this might be thought of defamation.
After going viral and producing controversy, Tea suffered a data breach over the summer, with hackers having access to 72,000 photos, together with 3,000 selfies and picture IDs submitted for account verification, in addition to 59,000 photos from posts, feedback, and direct messages.
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Later, a rival app known as TeaOnHer launched to supply males the power to dish on ladies in the identical method, however it was beset by safety points that exposed users’ personal information, together with authorities IDs and selfies, TechCrunch discovered in August.
Appfigures says the Tea app noticed 6.1 million whole lifetime downloads and had generated $5 million in gross income thus far. TeaOnHer had 2.2 million downloads and didn’t provide in-app purchases.
With their removing, copycat apps are gaining traction. As an illustration, an app known as Tea on Her & Him – Overheard has 354,000 whole downloads and has jumped from No. 90 on the Total Prime App Charts to No. 27.
