Tea, officiallyTea Dating Advice, is adating surveillancemobile phone application that allows women to postpersonal data about men they are interested in or are currently dating. Founded by Sean Cook, the app rose to prominence in July 2025 after it was the subject of three majordata leaks in July and August 2025. It was removed from Apple's App Store in October 2025, but remains available on the Google play store.
The app enables its users to upload, view, and comment on photos of men,[1] check men'spublic records, and perform image searches.[2] It also provides the ability to rate and review men, as well as a group chat function.[1][3] The app usesartificial intelligence to verify that the user is a woman throughfacial analysis and other personal information to preserve the app as awomen-only space.[1] Users are required to submit their photo and an ID to access the app.[4]
The company that created the app was founded by businessman and tech capitalist Sean Cook, who stated in July 2025 that he was inspired to create the app because of his mother's experiences from online dating.[5] According to the company, users remain anonymous, and the requirement to upload an ID was removed in 2023.[6][5] An August 2025 investigation by404 Media suggested that much of the information given by Cook on the historical background of the company was inaccurate.[7]
In July 2025, private messages, other personally identifying information, and approximately 72,000 images were leaked via4chan.[8] A further 1.1 million private messages were subsequently leaked using a separatesecurity vulnerability;[9] these included intimate conversations about controversial topics such asadultery and other forms ofinfidelity to their partners, discussions ofabortion, phone numbers, meeting locations, and other confidential communications.[10] The app's publishers subsequently revoked the ability to private message users in the app.[11] Shortly after, the app was hidden from search onAndroid[12] and an interactive, unverified map was also created of those in the files.[13] By 7 August 2025, ten class action lawsuits had been filed.[14][15] A further leak was reported later that month.[16]
Proponents have praised the app as an aid for women's safety by helping them check men foradultery,catfishing, criminal convictions and other "red flag" behaviors.[2][3][17] Critics have described the app as adoxing tool and a violation of privacy, an opportunity fordefamation against innocent individuals, and awitch hunt.[18][19] Cook has stated that the company's legal team receives about three legal threats per day.[20] Another mobile app, calledTeaOnHer, was created in response of the app’s popularity. It was described as the male version of the Tea app. The app also reported a data breach in August 2025.[21]
In October 2025, Apple removed the app from theirapp store, telling journalists that the removal was due to a failure to meet company terms regarding content moderation and user privacy. Apple also mentioned an excessive amount of complaints, including allegations that the personal information of minors was being shared. The app remains on theAndroid app store.[22][23]
