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

Controversial dating safety apps, Tea and TeaOnHer, have been pulled from the Apple App Store. The removal of apps was first noticed by App Store Intelligence Provider AppfiguresWhich told TechCrunch that the two apps were removed from the App Store in all markets on Tuesday but will remain live on Google Play.

Reached for comment, Apple confirmed the removal of the apps, saying it had removed T Dating Advice and Teaonher from the App Store because they failed to meet Apple’s requirements regarding content control and user privacy. The company also said it has seen an excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews, including allegations of minors posting personal information on these apps.

Apple reported the problems to the app’s developers, a representative said, but the complaints were not resolved. (Requests for comment from the app developers have not yet been returned.)

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

Tea and TeaOnHer have generated a lot of headlines and interest since going viral earlier this year. The tea, which has existed quietly since 2023 before picking up steam in 2025, was created as a dating safety tool for women, somewhat “Are we dating the same guy?” Facebook group. The app encouraged women to share details about men, especially on dating apps. This includes their personal information, Yelp-style reviews, and whether they would call them “green flags” or “red flags.”

Many men, however, did not appreciate the app’s invasion of their privacy to question Whether sharing such information could be considered defamation.

After going viral and causing controversy, Summer Tea suffered a data breachThe hackers gained access to 72,000 images, including 3,000 selfies and photo IDs submitted for account verification, including 59,000 images from posts, comments and direct messages.

Later, a rival app called TeaOnHer was launched to empower men to eat the same way as women, but it was beset by security issues. Users’ personal information is exposedWith official ID and selfies, TechCrunch discovered in august

According to AppFigures, the tea app has seen a lifetime total of 6.1 million downloads and has grossed $5 million to date. TeaOnHer had 2.2 million downloads and did not offer in-app purchases. It notes that the apps will remain live on Google Play for now.

With their app store takedown, however, copycats are gaining traction. For example, an application is called TeaOnHer and Him – Heard Totaled 354,000 downloads and rose from number 90 to number 27 on the overall Top Apps chart.