This week, Apple removed dating review apps Tea Dating Advice and TeaOnHer from the App Store for violating its content policies.
The apps were removed from all marketplaces on October 21, and Apple told TechCrunch that the app developers did not meet content management and user privacy, violating App Store guidelines 1.2, 5.1.2, and 5.6. Apple also said it had seen an “excessive number of user complaints and negative reviews,” including complaints that users were sharing personal information of minors.
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What do the Apple App Store regulations say?
- Rule 1.2 states that apps must have reporting and blocking features and remove objectionable content.
- Rule 5.1.2 prohibits apps from sharing personal user information without permission.
- Rule 5.6 states that excessively negative reviews violate Apple's Developer Code of Conduct.
Apple reportedly contacted the developers of each app before removing them, but they did not address the above issues.
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A few words about Tea review apps
Tea is an app that allows women to share details about the men they've dated, offering ratings on "red flags" and "green flags" they've noticed.
The app was released in 2023, but went viral earlier this year, and its popularity led to a data breach. In July, it was reported that 72,000 images were exposed in a cyberattack, including selfies, photo IDs, and photos exchanged through posts and messages. The timing of the breach was particularly interesting. Tea had been at the top of the App Store US just hours before the breach, after seeing explosive user growth and gaining attention via TikTok and Twitter (X).
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TeaOnHer a different developer that was released after the success of Tea, and it also had significant security issues.
Neither developer has commented on the situation. Both apps are still available on Google Play. TechCrunch has spotted multiple copycat apps on the App Store.
