Apple Removes Tea Dating Apps – Privacy Concerns
- Apple has removed the dating apps Tea and TeaOnHer from its App Store due to violations of its App Store guidelines, specifically concerning user privacy, moderation, and an...
- Apple cited violations of guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6 as the reason for removing the apps.
- According to TechCrunch, Apple contacted the developers of both apps prior to removal, providing them an chance to address the identified issues.
Apple Removes Dating Apps Tea and TeaOnHer From App Store Over Privacy and Moderation Concerns
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Apple has removed the dating apps Tea and TeaOnHer from its App Store due to violations of its App Store guidelines, specifically concerning user privacy, moderation, and an influx of user complaints. The removal, confirmed by TechCrunch, highlights apple’s commitment to user safety and adherence to its platform policies.
Violations of App Store Guidelines
Apple cited violations of guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6 as the reason for removing the apps. App Store Review Guideline 1.2 requires apps to include reporting and blocking features and to remove objectionable content. Guideline 5.1.2 prohibits the sharing of users’ personal information without explicit permission, and guideline 5.6 addresses the Developer Code of Conduct, which was breached due to excessive negative reviews.
According to TechCrunch, Apple contacted the developers of both apps prior to removal, providing them an chance to address the identified issues. However, the developers reportedly failed to make the necessary changes.
What Were Tea and TeaOnHer?
Tea, launched in 2023, gained viral popularity earlier in 2025 as a platform where women could share details about thier dating experiences, assigning “red flag” and “green flag” ratings to potential partners. This popularity, though, was quickly overshadowed by a data breach. TeaOnHer emerged as a copycat app following Tea’s success, but also faced significant security vulnerabilities.
The core concept behind both apps – publicly sharing opinions and experiences about dates – raised concerns about potential defamation, doxxing, and the sharing of sensitive personal information. The apps’ moderation policies were deemed insufficient to prevent these issues.
User Complaints and Privacy Concerns
Apple reported receiving an “excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews” regarding both Tea and TeaOnHer. A significant portion of these complaints centered around users sharing the personal information of minors, a serious breach of privacy and a violation of Apple’s policies.This prompted apple to take swift action to protect its users.
Availability on Other Platforms and Copycat Apps
Despite their removal from the Apple App Store, both Tea and TeaOnHer remain available for download on Google Play. Furthermore, TechCrunch reports that multiple copycat apps have already appeared on the App Store, attempting to replicate the functionality of the removed platforms.
Discussion Note: Due to the potentially sensitive and politically charged nature of discussions surrounding these apps, the related discussion thread is located in the Political News forum on MacRumors. Posting privileges in this forum are limited to members with at least 100 posts.
This article was last updated on October 22,2025,at 22:40:45 UTC.