- A US-based dating app designed to help women vet potential partners has been hacked, exposing tens of thousands of users to harassment, stalking, and public ridicule.
- The Tea Dating Advice app, which allowed women to flag red flags and share experiences, was breached in late July, leaking over 70,000 images and location data.
- Maps showing users’ homes were posted online, triggering lawsuits and widespread fear.
- Experts say the incident reflects deeper tensions in modern dating and the growing risks women face online.
Sally thought she had finally escaped her past. After ending a toxic relationship with a man who stalked her relentlessly — showing up at her job, her friends’ homes, and eventually forcing her to move — she was ready to try dating again. But she wasn’t going to take chances.
She signed up for Tea, a US-only dating app that promised women a layer of protection. It allowed users to run background checks, flag suspicious behavior, and share experiences about men they were dating. The app quickly gained traction, climbing to the top of the charts in July with over a million users.
But what started as a tool for safety turned into a nightmare.
In late July, Tea was hacked. More than 70,000 images — including selfies and IDs submitted for verification — were leaked onto 4chan. Within hours, misogynist groups had weaponized the data. Maps showing the locations of 33,000 users were posted online. Sally zoomed in, hoping not to find herself. But there it was — her exact address, visible to anyone.
She was terrified. Her ex didn’t know where she lived. Now, he could.
The fallout was swift. Google removed the maps after being alerted by the BBC. At least ten women have filed lawsuits against the app’s parent company. Tea’s spokesperson said they’re notifying affected users and offering credit monitoring services, while promising tighter security.
But the damage was done.
Online, the leak became a rallying point for misogynist communities. Websites and apps popped up mocking the women who had joined Tea. A “game” surfaced, pitting leaked selfies against each other for public ranking. Telegram groups shared AI-generated sexual images of users, along with their social media handles.
Men’s versions of Tea also emerged — not for safety, but for revenge. Posts included racial slurs, sexual insults, and requests for “reviews” of women. The tone was cruel, and the intent clear: humiliation.
Experts say the breach was inevitable. The app had long faced criticism for enabling gossip and unverified claims. But for many women, it felt necessary — a way to protect themselves in a dating landscape that often feels unsafe.
Sociologist Dr Jenny Van Hooff says the leak only reinforces why women felt the need for such a platform. Dating apps, she notes, offer little accountability. Unlike meeting someone through friends or work, there’s no social buffer — and no consequences for bad behavior.
A 2023 Pew study found that over half of women in the US had negative experiences on dating apps, with many reporting harassment and feeling unsafe.
The Tea app was built on the idea that women could reclaim control. But the breach flipped that promise on its head. For Sally, the fallout was personal. She’s now staying with loved ones, trying to feel safe again.
