Apple has taken firm action against two widely discussed dating review platforms, Tea and TeaOnHer, by removing them from the App Store worldwide due to significant concerns regarding privacy violations and inadequate content moderation. This ban, implemented on October 21, follows months of increasing complaints and scrutiny over how these applications managed sensitive user data. According to Appfigures, Apple made this decision after receiving a high volume of user complaints and negative reviews. Reports indicated that personal information of minors had been found on these platforms, raising serious privacy concerns. Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that both applications breached its App Store Guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6, which relate to moderation practices, user data protection, and overall compliance by developers.
Launched in 2023, the Tea app quickly gained popularity, topping charts over the summer. It was intended as a platform for women to anonymously share their dating experiences and rate men using “red flag” or “green flag” tags. Subsequently, TeaOnHer was introduced as a counterpart for men to review women they had dated. Both applications attracted millions of users, but their success also faced criticism from privacy advocates, legal experts, and users who raised concerns about unverified accusations, public shaming, and the absence of consent in user-generated posts. Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines explicitly require applications with user-generated content to have effective reporting and moderation systems.
Rule 1.2 necessitates the prompt removal of inappropriate content, while 5.1.2 prohibits the unauthorized use of personal information, and 5.6 grants Apple the authority to remove apps that consistently receive poor feedback or violate developer conduct rules. An internal assessment reportedly found that Tea and TeaOnHer repeatedly failed to fulfill these requirements, especially regarding the management of minors’ data and slow responses to reported content. In a statement to Business Insider, Apple indicated that both apps did not meet the standards for content moderation and user privacy and received a significant number of user complaints and negative reviews, including issues involving the posting of minors’ personal information.
The company stated it had engaged with the developers multiple times, but core issues remained unaddressed. In response to Apple’s action, TeaOnHer’s developer, Lampkin, expressed disappointment, asserting that the team had put considerable effort into enhancing safety. He mentioned the deployment of advanced AI content filtering, manual moderation teams, improved systems for protecting minors, and anti-cyberbullying measures. Lampkin also noted that the company had undergone over 20 rounds of feedback with Apple and had implemented all requested improvements, including the daily removal of thousands of inappropriate posts. Currently, both Tea and TeaOnHer are still accessible on Google Play, although it is unclear if Google will take similar action as Apple.
This incident highlights Apple’s rigorous enforcement of privacy and safety standards, reaffirming the company’s commitment to maintaining trust and accountability within its App Store ecosystem.
