| Tea Dating Advice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Tea Dating Advice, Inc. |
| Initial release | 2023 |
| Operating system | |
| Type | Social networking |
| Website | www |
Tea, officially Tea Dating Advice, is a mobile phone application that allows women to post personal data about men they are interested in or are currently dating. Founded by Sean Cook, the app rose to prominence in July 2025 after it was the subject of three major data leaks in July and August 2025.
The app enables its users to upload, view, and comment on photos of men, [1] check men's public records, and perform image searches. [2] It also provides the ability to rate and review men, as well as a group chat function. [1] [3] The app uses artificial intelligence to verify that the user is a woman through facial analysis and other personal information to preserve the app as a women-only space. [1] Users are required to submit their photo and an ID to access the app. [4]
The company that created the app was founded by businessman and tech capitalist Sean Cook, who stated in July 2025 that he was inspired to create the app because of his mother's experiences from online dating. [5] According to the company, users remain anonymous, and the requirement to upload an ID was removed in 2023. [6] [5] An August 2025 investigation by 404 Media suggested that much of the information given by Cook on the historical background of the company was inaccurate. [7]
In July 2025, private messages, other personally identifying information, and approximately 72,000 images were leaked via 4chan. [8] A further 1.1 million private messages were subsequently leaked using a separate security vulnerability; [9] these included intimate conversations about controversial topics such as adultery and other forms of infidelity on their partners, discussions of abortion, phone numbers, meeting locations, and other confidential communications. [10] The app's publishers subsequently revoked the ability to private message users in the app. [11] Shortly after, the app was hidden from search on Android [12] and an interactive, unverified map was also created of those in the files. [13] By 7 August 2025, ten class action lawsuits had been filed. [14] [15] A further leak was reported later that month. [16]
Proponents have praised the app as an aid for women's safety by helping them check men for adultery, catfishing, criminal convictions and other "red flag" behaviors. [2] [3] [17] Critics have described the app as a doxing tool and a violation of privacy, an opportunity for defamation against innocent individuals, and a witch hunt. [18] [19] Cook has stated that the company's legal team receives about three legal threats per day. [20]
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