A new, women-only app is turning heads, and sparking debate. Tea is now the number one lifestyle app on the App Store, with over a million women signing up in just one week. The draw? it's crowdsourced background checks for modern dating, as users post pictures of the men they’re seeing and ask for "tea"—meaning gossip, warnings and red flags.
Launched by founder Sean Cook after seeing his mother get catfished online, Tea’s stated aim is simple: help women avoid dangerous or deceptive dates. And it’s clearly striking a chord, especially with Gen Z on TikTok. But it isn’t without controversy.
What does Tea do?
It isn’t a dating app. Instead, it helps women verify that the guy from Hinge really is who he says he is. Users can run reverse image searches through the app’s Catfish Finder AI, look up phone numbers for secrets like a hidden marriage and access background info from public records and criminal databases.
Tea also has an anonymous chat space—Tea Party Group Chat—where women swap stories, ask questions and share feedback on exes or current dates. There’s even a "green flag" feature to confirm that someone is legit, alongside protections that block screenshots to keep posts within the app.
Who can use Tea?
Tea is strictly for women, verified through identity checks. The app uses SafeSip AI moderation to catch and remove harmful content before it spreads.
But is it all good?
It's debatable. Critics warn that posting photos of men without consent can quickly cross ethical lines, especially if the "tea" shared isn’t accurate. As attorney William Barnwell notes, men could sue for defamation if posts damage careers or reputations. And while outing an abuser is one thing, some question whether slights like ghosting are really enough to justify naming and shaming. Data protection laws like the EU’s GDPR could block Tea from launching outside the U.S. And of course, publishing false or exaggerated claims could land users in serious legal trouble.
Bottom line
Tea was born out of good intentions and offers tools to help women feel safer in the minefield of online dating, but it walks a fine line between safety and potential misuse. If you’re thinking of downloading, it’s worth weighing the benefits against the risks, and remembering that even digital gossip can have real-world consequences.