&w=3840&q=100)
What is the viral 'Tea' app allowing women to red-flag men?
The app is gaining popularity among Gen Z.
A new women-only app called Tea has gone viral.
The app is named for after the expression 'spilling the tea' or sharing the gossip.
It allows women to anonymously share feedback about the men they are dating, have dated previously or even interacted with in the past.
The app, ironically, became more popular at the same time that the Coldplay cheating saga unfolded.
It is quickly becoming one of the most popular apps in different app stores.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
But what do we know about Tea? How does it work?
Let's take a closer look:
What do we know? How does it work?
The app was founded by Sean Cook, who previously worked at Salesforce and Shutterfly.
Tea is gaining popularity on TikTok.
It seems to be particularly popular with Gen Z and amongst West Asian communities.
The app currently has over 500,000 users.
It currently has a waiting list of around 900,000 to join.
It has skyrocketed to the top of the ranks for free apps on the Apple store.
It is also available on Android phones.
The chat features a 'Group Chat' in which women can share experiences about men and dating among themselves.
Women can post photos of the men they're dating and list 'green flags' and 'red flags'.
They can also solicit information from other women who have dated the same man and their backgrounds.
While some features are free, others are behind a paywall.
After five free searches, women can shell out $15 (Rs 1,300).
Or they can gain unlimited searches by inviting others to join Tea.
Tea has received over 16,000 five-star ratings.
The chat features a 'Group Chat' in which women can share experiences about men and dating. Image courtesy: Teaforwomen.com
'Unlike anything else out there, this app is designed with women's safety, awareness, and empowerment as its top priority,' one review reads. 'It goes beyond basic dating protection and truly provides a layer of defense against liars, cheaters, scammers, and even predators.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
However, most of the reviews of men on the app appear to be negative.
The app also has a real-time verification mechanism to prevent men from gaining access to it.
'If you get past the waiting list, you have to submit a pic of your face with an ID to prove you are a girl because no guys are allowed on the app,' one user told Fox2Detroit.com. 'The guys that are green flags, I was trying to look them up on social media and like, oh, this is a good guy. So both ends of the spectrum are dictating my dating life right now'.
It uses Artificial Intelligence to conduct background checks on its users.
It also has catfish detection technology which allows users to reverse image search and uncover fake profiles.
Phone number lookup helps verify if someone has a hidden marriage or concerning history with their phone number.
Women can also look up public records of men and check their criminal history.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Cook has said he came up with the idea for the app after watching his mother struggle in the online dating world.
Not only did she get repeatedly scammed, she also got catfished on dating platforms.
Sabrina Henriquez, 28, told Washington Post she found the app on TikTok.
She said other women had discussed how the app helmed them.
'They were going to go on a date with a certain individual, but once they got on the app and saw how much of a safety hazard this man is because of the allegations of abuse, it kind of saved them from putting themselves in that situation,' Henriquez said.
The data shows Cook is right.
Not only are women at risk of being scammed on dating apps, they could also be in physical danger.
A 2019 ProPublica report, conducted with Columbia Journalism Investigations, showed that a one-third of 1,200 women had been sexually assaulted by men they met on dating apps.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'With millions of women facing online dating risks daily, I knew there had to be a better way,' Cook has said. 'Tea was built to provide women with an easy way to vet potential dates without fear instantly. Dating should be exciting, not dangerous-and we're here to revolutionise online dating safety for women.'
Tea also donates 10 per cent of its profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
While women have praised the app on social media, men have not.
It is currently available in the United States.
What do critics say?
Some are worried about the app possibly being misused.
Others have raised issues of privacy for the men whose photos and information have been put up on the app.
'The app could easily be used to spread unverified accusations — especially with its anonymous nature — and could even be used as a revenge tool,' Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, told Forbes. 'While its intentions are simple and protective, the unregulated format could unfortunately open it up to abuse,' he says.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
They predict a slew of lawsuits for the app.
Experts say that the women posting on the app should do so carefully.
Attorney William Barnwell told Fox2Detroit.com, 'I could see some areas where this could cause people some big problems'.
'Truth is an absolute defence for a defamation claim; you can't just sue someone because your feelings are hurt'.
'You can be saying something that is true, but it's being used in a way to constantly harass somebody. There are laws that cover that,' Barnwell added. 'In people's outrage to want to out these bad people, it might be better to walk away.'
With inputs from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Burger King's menu changed, new coffee and lemonade drinks added - is it to compete with Starbucks and McDonald's?
Move over, Starbucks. Burger King has just entered the iced coffee chat—and no, they are not playing it safe. The fast-food chain has rolled out four Iced Coffee Cold Foam options, including Vanilla, Mocha, Black, and a limited-edition Plain (which is only available at select spots, so basically: good luck). Gen Z caffeine lovers, brace yourselves. Burger King menu changed This big swing is part of BK's latest mission to level up its drinks game and, let's be real, snatch a bit of that coffee cash from its rivals. But the tea, or should we say lemonade, does not stop there. Burger King has also dropped two Real Juice Lemonades: Strawberry Lemonade made with real fruit juice, and a Mango Peach Lemonade that sounds like it came straight out of a summer picnic fantasy. The drinks are priced at a recommended $2.49 (small), $2.79 (medium), and $3.29 (large), though prices may vary depending on your zip code and the universe's mood that day. According to BK's team, the goal was to serve something 'delicious and refreshing' that feels less like fast food and more like a mini escape. Not just sips, Burger King also stacking the whopper drama These drinks are not the only spicy new thing on the menu. BK recently launched the BBQ Brisket Whopper, the first fan-created item from its 'Whopper by You' platform. Yep, now customers are co-designing burgers like it is Build-A-Burger Workshop out here. The meaty new Whopper includes slow-cooked brisket, crispy onions, American cheese, sweet barbecue sauce, lettuce, tomato, creamy mayo, and a flame-grilled patty. Oh, and there is a Whopper Jr. version for the minimalists. Burger King's fighting for fast-food survival Industry insiders say this entire menu glow-up is not just for vibes. Financial experts believe Burger King is fighting to win back customers who stopped dining out during inflation struggles. BK's drinks revamp is a calculated move to lure Starbucks stans, McDonald's loyalists, and Dutch Bros drive-thru regulars into the kingdom. It is a beverage battlefield out there, and BK just brewed its boldest comeback yet.
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kiss cam scandal: Astronomer teams up with Chris Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow; drops satirical video
The American actress Gwyneth Paltrow was featured in a Astronomer video following Coldplay kiss cam scandal In a bizarre twist to a corporate scandal, American actress Gwyneth Paltrow has appeared as a temporary 'spokesperson' for tech company Astronomer. This comes days after the Astronomer CEO and HR head resigned following a viral kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert. The video was posted on the Astronomer's X account. It shows Paltrow answering mock questions from the public, poking fun at the company's sudden fame after its top brass was caught in an apparent affair. — astronomerio (@astronomerio) However, netizens were quick to point out that the Coldplay concert where the incident occurred was headlined by Chris Martin, Paltrow's ex-husband and the father of her two children. The scandal began when Astronomer's CEO Andy Byron and Head of HR Kristin Cabot were caught on the kiss cam during a Coldplay show at Gillette Stadium on July 16. Their awkward, panicked reaction quickly went viral on social media. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even called them out mid-show, joking they were 'having an affair.' Both Byron and Cabot resigned from their positions following the incident. In the video, Paltrow was seen wearing a light blue shirt and seated in a plain corporate setting. Paltrow opens the video with, 'Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. Hi, I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jolie-Pitt Family Proudly Stands By Shiloh's Change Drivepedia Undo I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300 plus employees at Astronomer.' The background music and format seem corporate in style. But the tone shifts quickly as a question flashes on-screen: 'OMG! What the actual f**k.' Paltrow replies, 'Yes! Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow.' She continues, 'We've been thrilled to see so many people suddenly interested in data workflow automation,' before smiling and adding, 'As for the other questions we've received…' Another query appears: 'Q: How is your social media team holding—' before Paltrow jumps in again: 'Yes! There is still room available at our Beyond Analytics event this September!' She concludes, 'And now, we'll return to doing what we do best... delivering game-changing results for our customers. Thank you for your interest in Astronomer.' While the video is being praised by some as clever marketing, others are calling it a desperate PR stunt to deflect attention from the viral scandal. Astronomer's new interim CEO, Pete DeJoy, addressed the controversy, writing: 'The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.'
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
After Coldplay scandal, Astronomer hires Chris Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow to help with the PR mess: 'Thank you for your interest in…'
Astronomer has made an attempt to salvage the company's reputation after the Coldplay kiss cam cheating scandal spiralled out of proportion on social media. The company has hired Gwyneth Paltrow , the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to help the AI startup with some public relations. The company had all of social media buzzing again, this time for hiring Paltrow to mock the widely shared kiss cam controversy involving their former CEO Andy Byron and former HR head Kristin Cabot. The Hollywood actress featured in a promotional video in which she reveals that she has been engaged on a "very temporary basis" by the tech startup to represent over 300 employees and to respond to a few simple questions. The Hollywood actress who is known for her role in 'Iron Man' then went on to say that the company had "gotten a lot of questions in the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones." But instead of addressing the controversy, Ms. Paltrow avoids all the questions and begins outlining how the company works. Paltrow, who cheerfully quipped that the New York-based firm is "thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." The clip then shifts to another question about how the firm's social media team is handling the PR mess - only to be cut off mid-sentence. "Yes, there is still room available at our Beyond Analytics event in September. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like La nouvelle BMW X3. BMW Learn More Undo We will now be returning to what we do best - delivering game-changing results for our customers, she says. This video comes more than a week after Byron and Cabot, who have since resigned from their positions in the company, were caught in a compromising position on the kiss cam during the Coldplay concert. It was their uncomfortable reaction to the "kiss cam" that quickly went viral on social media, triggering various reactions. The urgent manner in which the couple hid made Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin also suspect that they were either having an affair or they were very shy. It wasn't long before the internet discovered that both Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron were married to other people. Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, the owner of the Privateer Rum and a member of one of Boston's richest families, whereas Byron's wife is Megan Kerrigan and shares 3 children.
