Viral app “Tea” sparks debate over dating safety and online reputation
A new app called Tea has rapidly become a viral sensation, as thousands of women use it to anonymously share candid reviews and warnings about men’s behavior in the dating world. This women-only app, however, was created by a man.
Tea’s website says founder Sean Cook developed the app after “witnessing his mother’s terrifying experience with online dating, not only being catfished but unknowingly engaging with men who had criminal records.”
Tea said on TikTok this week that more than 4 million women are now using the app.
How Tea works
Tea enables a crowdsourced network aimed at protecting users from potential risks from dating online and in the real world.
The app allows women to create anonymous posts searchable by first name and city. Women can label each man with a red or green flag and leave comments about him. They can say they had a negative date with the man, for example, or they can vouch for him as a friend.
The app uses a verification protocol to ensure only women access the community. It operates similarly to earlier platforms, including the Facebook group “Are We Dating the Same Guy?”
Controversy and legal challenges
Despite its popularity, Tea has ignited a fierce backlash.
Critics, chiefly men, complain about invasion of privacy, reputational harm and potential defamation from unverified allegations.
Several men named on Tea have threatened legal action, and similar platforms have faced libel lawsuits. Some women involved in related Facebook groups have also faced legal challenges, illustrating the complicated balance between free speech and defamation.
Looking Ahead
Tea symbolizes the shifting dynamics of dating accountability and digital justice, offering empowerment but stirring controversy. As debate rages over free speech, privacy and safety, Tea’s rise marks a new chapter in how relationships are navigated and judged in the digital age.
“There are multiple studies now showing that around 10 percent of overall cases of sexual assault are attributed to a dating app now,” said Douglas Zytko, a professor at the University of Michigan at Flint who studies app design and user safety. “And we don’t see similar calls for dating apps to be wholly banned on that basis.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
