Common Sense Media Review
Originally for women's safety, Tea now endangers teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Tea, officially "Tea Dating Advice"," is an app in which women can anonymously post reviews of men. The app began with the mission of providing a space for women to share information that could keep them safe from potential danger while dating but has since evolved to include a public forum for anonymous comments, flags, and voice notes about all dating behaviors and personal characteristics. To create an account, Tea requires women to upload a selfie to verify their identity. After being verified (a process that can take up to 72 hours), users are given access to a homescreen of photos of men in their area, accompanied by text and voice comments about them, as well as "red flag" and "green flag" tallies for each profile. Users can search for specific people by first name and/or post reviews of their own. With premium subscriptions, the tool also provides access to criminal records, phone number search, social media profiles, and reverse image searches to check for "catfishing." While the app's Terms of Service say it's for women 18 and up, users' birthdates are self-reported, which means girls younger than 18 can access the app by going through the verification process. The publishers claim that they remove profiles for younger accounts, but many go undetected.
Is It Any Good?
While protecting women and girls is important, sharing personal information in an unmoderated public forum can harm men and boys who value their privacy. Since there's no way to verify users' claims and getting content removed from Tea Dating Advice isn't always possible, the app leaves men and boys vulnerable to misrepresentation and doxxing.
The app's "green flag" feature and potential for positive posts don't outweigh the reality that Tea is focused on revealing private information (true or unfounded). Overall, the tool has lost sight of the sincere purpose of protecting girls' and women's dating lives online and in person and doesn't have adequate protections against underage users creating accounts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that anything shared online, about yourself or others, leaves a digital footprint. How could a photo, message, or post like those shared on Tea come back to affect you later, even if you delete it?
Families also can discuss unsafe or abusive dating behavior. Why is it important to tell a trusted adult if someone is being abusive or making you feel unsafe, rather than only responding online? How can a parent, guardian, or other adult help protect you and take action?
Talk about the risks of meeting or chatting with people online. How can you tell whether someone is who they say they are? What are some ways to stay safe when interacting with new people online?
What are some ways to show respect for others online, especially when sharing information about friends, partners, or peers? How do your choices online reflect your character?
For more guidance on helping your kid navigate online interactions safely, check out our Digital Citizenship Resources for teens.
App Details
- Device : Android
- Pricing structure : Free to try
- Release date : January 12, 2023
- Genre : Lifestyle
- Topics : Friendship , Holidays ( Valentine's Day ) , STEM ( AI )
- Publisher : Tea Dating Advice Inc.
- Last updated : October 30, 2025
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