Women Share Anonymous Stories About Men in Their Cities on Popular Viral App

When Cid Walker opens the Tea app, she is immediately met with a flood of posts discussing men and their “red” and “green” flags. “He’s a cheater,” she reads from one comment.

Another user questions, “What clubs does he go to? He’s cute.”

The app allows users to seek feedback from other women regarding men they are dating. Walker, 22, is part of the 4 million users on the women-only safety app, which recently surged to become the number one free app in the Apple App Store.

This spike in popularity is largely attributable to discussions on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok. Tea announced that it garnered over 900,000 new sign-ups in just a few days, prompting complaints on social media about lengthy waitlist times.

Once users open Tea, they can see local men’s photos along with their first names. Others in the community can assess these men as either “red flags” or “green flags” and leave comments detailing their experiences.

This aspect has greatly intrigued users like Walker, who noted, “I’ve seen so many people I know on the app. It’s crazy.”

The app includes features for searching individual names and running background checks, providing a measure of safety for users.

Interestingly, Tea was founded by Sean Cook, inspired by his mother’s negative experiences with online dating, including being catfished. While some users view the platform as a protective measure, it has drawn criticism from men who fear misrepresentation.

Similar platforms have historically faced backlash for devolving into gossip forums and for spreading misinformation. Men have even requested that the app be reported, hoping to see it shut down.

A competing app called Teaborn briefly emerged but was removed from the App Store after allegations of inappropriate content. Despite the app’s intended purpose, Walker and other users express unease about allowing anonymous negative commentary.

While Tea promotes a supportive sisterhood and claims to donate profits to domestic violence prevention, Walker worries that it often serves as a space for gossip rather than genuine safety concerns. She noted, “If used correctly, it could save many women from harm, but right now, it feels like a joke to everybody.”