MISSED SCHEDULE
Weeks after hackers leaked user data from the Tea app, a platform that lets women rate ex-partners, a new male version of the app, TeaOnHer, experienced the same issue. The controversy surrounding these two apps raises questions about their purpose, security, and the consequences of data breaches.
About the Apps
The original Tea app launched in 2023, marketed as a women’s safety tool to warn others about bad experiences with men they dated. It features anonymous forums, criminal background checks, phone number lookups, and a reverse image search tool to identify catfishers. To join, women must upload a selfie and a photo of their ID to verify their gender.
In response to the women-focused app, a male version of the Tea app, TeaOnHer, launched. It quickly joined Tea at the top of the app charts. The app allows men to anonymously share information on the women they date. However, many users of the Tea app said it can’t be compared to TeaOnHer. TikToker Nina (@ninadoesthemost) pointed out that women and men were using their respective apps for different reasons.
"Women are using this app to expose people who are doing domestic violence and maybe got a restraining order. Or maybe he’s got seven kids and don’t show up for any of them," she explained. "[Men] are on there for a different reason. They’re green flagging which girls are easy or good in bed." Both apps experienced major data breaches, highlighting concerns about their security.
The Data Breach
In July, hackers accessed and leaked private messages between Tea users and their ID photos. The data was quickly downloaded and spread on the online imageboard, 4chan, according to 404 Media. On TikTok, many women lamented that their information was shared in the breach.
"I should’ve minded my business. Should’ve left that tea app aloneee," one ed under a video of the leaked images. "I joined to see what the hype was all about, I should have left it alone," another wrote. “My pic is so ugly. I just wanted to see what the app is abt,” a third said.
Just last week, TeaOnHer experienced the same issue. According to TechCrunch, the male version of the app began leaking driver’s licenses of its users, too. Reporters were able to access the sensitive data in minutes, as the admin side of the app allowed unauthenticated users to access it.
The Developer's Mistake
An X user explains how hackers got access to TeaOnHer, writing, "TeaOnHer, the app meant to combat the infamous “TeaApp”, is also a giant dumpster fire. It has been compromised. THE DEVELOPER MADE HIS PASSWORD TO THE ADMIN PANEL “Password1!”. IT WAS STORED IN PLAIN TEXT ON THE LANDING PAGE. WHAT THE [expletive]?”
The internet was flooded with questions and criticisms about the app's lack of security following the first breach of the original Tea app. "Wait, so they saw what happened with the first app getting ‘hacked’ and decided, let’s store user info in the same negligent way?" one asked.
Reactions and Consequences
How did TeaOnHer users react to the breach? On the subreddit r/technology, many users criticized the app’s lack of security following the first breach of the original Tea app. "Whoever owns that site, should just sell their computer and not touch them ever again," another said.
"Surprised guys put their finger in that light socket while their sister is still in the hospital with electrical burns," a third joked. Others questioned if the hack was a “set up” to expose men who use the app. "Was this just a revenge project made by the original with the only intention of doxxing some men?" one wrote on X.
Both Tea and TeaOnHer may face class action lawsuits by users whose personal data was leaked. The internet is chaotic, but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter here.