In a troubling incident highlighting the vulnerabilities of online platforms, Tea Dating Advice, a women-only dating safety app, has confirmed that it was the target of a cyber attack, compromising thousands of users’ data. The app allows women to perform background checks on potential partners and anonymously report "red flag" behaviors, but it now faces serious scrutiny after hackers accessed images, posts, and private messages, affecting around 72,000 members.
Tea Dating Advice, which boasts a user base of 1.6 million, reported that unauthorized access affected primarily users who registered before February 2024. The company claims it is collaborating with top cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach and mitigate harm, stating, "We're taking every step to protect this community - now and always."
Initially developed by Sean Cook in response to witnessing his mother's experiences with online dating, the app gained popularity as it provides unique features like verifying whether potential dates have prior marriage or sex offender registrations. Its controversial element, allowing women to share both "red flags" and "green flag" traits about their dates, has drawn both interest and criticism from opposing sides.
On Friday, the company acknowledged that the breach also included an additional 59,000 images along with older posts and direct messages dating back over two years. Tea's privacy policy claimed that user verification photos were meant to be deleted immediately but have now come under scrutiny following this incident.
While the app continues working to secure its platform, broader questions loom about privacy rights, particularly related to the growing prevalence of apps focused on vetting personal relationships. Legal challenges have already arisen, as exemplified by users alleging defamation related to similar platforms that share personal information about individuals. As awareness of digital safety expands, the incident with Tea Dating Advice exemplifies the ongoing struggle to ensure privacy in an increasingly interconnected world.
