*The Tea app, a viral platform where women anonymously share experiences about men, suffered a major security breach, exposing 72,000 images, including 13,000 selfies and government IDs.
As ABC News reports, a spokesperson confirmed the hack on Friday, noting the compromised data stemmed from a database over two years old, originally kept to comply with cyberbullying laws.
Designed as a safe space, Tea allows women to post reviews of men, labeling them as “red flags” or “green flags.” The app, which surged to the top of the Apple App Store with nearly a million new sign-ups, requires users to submit selfies for verification, which are supposedly deleted after review to ensure anonymity.
The breach has sparked outrage, with stolen images shared on platforms such as 4Chan and X, escalating concerns about user privacy. The company learned of the incident early Friday and has since engaged third-party cybersecurity experts.
“Tea has engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and are working around the clock to secure its systems. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that additional user data was affected,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
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“Protecting Tea users’ privacy and data is their highest priority. Tea is taking every necessary step to ensure the security of the platform and prevent further exposure.”
The app’s promise of anonymity and screenshot-blocking features has been undermined by the hack.
Tea, launched in 2023 by Sean Cook after his mother’s troubling online dating experiences, has faced backlash from some men, prompting a 4Chan thread calling for a “hack and leak” campaign. The platform’s rapid rise and controversial premise have now made it a target in a heated online privacy debate.
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