Apple confirms it has removed controversial dating apps Tea and TeaOnHer from the App Store

Controversial dating safety apps Tea and TeaOnHer have been removed from Apple’s App Store. The removal of the apps was first spotted by App Store information provider Appfigures, which told TechCrunch that both apps were removed from the App Store on Tuesday in all markets but remained live on Google Play.

Reached for comment, Apple confirmed the removal of the apps, saying it removed Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer from the App Store because they did not meet Apple’s requirements for content moderation and user privacy. The company also said it has seen an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, including complaints about the posting of minors’ personal information in these apps.

Apple communicated the issues to the apps’ developers, a representative said, but the complaints were not addressed. (Request for comment from the app developers has not yet been returned.)

Specifically, Apple cited violations of its App Review Guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Rule 1.2 states that apps with user-generated content must offer reporting and blocking features and must remove objectionable content. Rule 5.1.2 states that apps cannot use or share someone’s personal information without permission, and Rule 5.6 states that excessive customer reporting and negative reviews violate Apple’s Developer Code of Conduct.

Tea and TeaOnHer have generated a lot of headlines and interest since they went viral earlier this year. Tea, which had been around quietly since 2023 before gaining momentum in 2025, was touted as a dating safety tool for women, somewhat similar to “Are we dating the same guy?” Facebook groups. The app encouraged women to disclose information about men, particularly those on dating apps. This included their personal information, Yelp-style reviews, and whether they would call them a “green flag” or a “red flag.”

Many men, however, did not appreciate the app’s invasion of their privacy and questioned whether sharing information like this could be considered defamation.

After going viral and sparking controversy, Tea suffered a data breach over the summer, with hackers gaining access to 72,000 images, including 3,000 selfies and photo IDs submitted for account verification, as well as 59,000 images from posts, comments and direct messages.

Later, a rival app called TeaOnHer was launched to offer men the ability to prey on women in the same way, but it faced security issues that exposed users’ personal information, including government IDs and selfies, TechCrunch discovered in August.

Appfigures reports that the Tea app has seen 6.1 million total downloads and has generated $5 million in gross revenue to date. TeaOnHer had 2.2 million downloads and did not offer in-app purchases. He notes that the apps remain live on Google Play for now.

However, with the removal of the App Store, imitators are gaining ground. For example, an app called TeaOnHer and Him – Overheard has 354,000 total downloads and moved from 90th place in the overall top apps ranking to 27th place.