Apple Removes Controversial Dating Apps Tea and TeaOnHer from App Store

Apple has removed two controversial dating safety apps, Tea and TeaOnHer, from the App Store due to concerns over user privacy and content moderation. This action occurred on a Tuesday, as reported by the app store intelligence provider Appfigures. While these apps have been eliminated from Apple’s platform, they continue to be available on Google Play.

Reasons for Removal

Apple cited several violations as the basis for the removal. The apps failed to comply with the App Review Guidelines, particularly:

• Guideline 1.2: Apps must provide users with reporting and blocking features and remove objectionable content.
• Guideline 5.1.2: User personal information should not be shared without consent.
• Guideline 5.6: Excessive user complaints and negative reviews violate Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.

There were numerous user complaints, including issues concerning minors’ personal information being shared on these platforms. Despite Apple alerting the developers about these problems, no remedial action was taken.

Background on the Apps

Tea was originally launched in 2023 and gained significant attention by 2025. It was designed as a safety tool for women, similar to the concept behind the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” Facebook Groups. The platform allowed women to share details about men they encountered on dating apps, including personal information and reviews.

The app faced backlash from many men who felt their privacy was invaded, questioning the legitimacy of the information shared. After attracting controversy, Tea experienced a serious data breach in the summer, affecting about 72,000 images, including selfies and photo IDs used for account verification.

Launch of TeaOnHer

A rival application, TeaOnHer, emerged to mirror Tea’s functionality, allowing men to share their experiences about women. However, TeaOnHer encountered its own security issues, which exposed sensitive user information, such as government IDs and selfies.

Performance Metrics

With the removal of these apps from the App Store, similar applications are beginning to gain popularity. For example, an app named TeaOnHer and Him – Overheard has garnered 354,000 downloads and has risen from 90th to 27th in the Overall Top App Charts.