Apple Takes Action Against Viral Dating Apps
Apple has removed the controversial Tea dating apps from its iOS App Store, according to reports from app analytics firm Appfigures. The decision, which took effect on October 21, affects both the original Tea app and its counterpart TeaOnHer, both of which gained viral popularity this summer for enabling anonymous dating reviews.
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Persistent Privacy and Moderation Issues
An Apple spokesperson told Business Insider that the apps were removed for failing to meet “requirements around content moderation and user privacy.” Sources indicate the company had received an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, including reports of minors’ personal information being posted within the apps.
The spokesperson further explained that Apple typically works with developers to resolve violations, but in this case had “communicated repeatedly” with both development teams. According to the report, the same critical issues “nevertheless continued to persist” despite these efforts.
History of Security Breaches
Analysts suggest the apps’ removal follows a series of security incidents that compromised user data. In late July, Tea confirmed a data breach that exposed approximately 72,000 images, including user selfies and driver’s licenses used for identity verification. The company acknowledged that some direct messages were also accessed during the breach, leading to multiple lawsuits.
Scott Cole, lead attorney on one of the lawsuits, told Business Insider in July that while he didn’t believe Tea “intended to violate people’s rights,” he characterized their approach as “sloppy.”, according to recent studies
TeaOnHer also experienced security issues in August when its API documentation endpoints were briefly exposed due to a configuration error. Founder Xavier Lampkin confirmed to Business Insider that TechCrunch had accessed user data during this window but claimed the issue was fixed within approximately one hour of notification.
Developer Response and Ongoing Concerns
Lampkin expressed disappointment with Apple’s decision, telling Business Insider that his team had implemented “advanced AI content filtering with a 2,000+ word filter system, manual moderation teams, enhanced minor protection systems, and anti-cyberbullying measures.” He stated they had worked through more than 20 rounds of feedback with Apple, implementing every requested safety feature and removing thousands of inappropriate posts daily., according to market developments
However, security researcher Kasra Rahjerdi told Business Insider in August that he was able to view some users’ posts via TeaOnHer’s publicly accessible API. While Lampkin described this accessibility as a designed “safety and transparency feature,” analysts suggest it represented ongoing privacy concerns.
Current Status and Market Impact
As of October 22, reports indicate that both apps remain functional for users who had previously downloaded them to their iPhones. Meanwhile, another similar app called Tea On Her & Him — Overheard has risen to become the number one mobile app in the lifestyle category on Apple’s App Store, raising questions about how Apple will approach content moderation for similar platforms moving forward.
Google has not yet commented on whether it will review or remove the apps from its Play Store, leaving the future of these controversial dating platforms uncertain across mobile ecosystems.
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References & Further Reading
This article draws from multiple authoritative sources. For more information, please consult:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_app
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_moderation
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