In a shocking turn of events, the popular dating safety app Tea has suffered a significant data breach, exposing 72,000 user images, including selfies and photo IDs. The app, designed as a safe space for women to share dating experiences and safety tips about men, confirmed the hack on July 26, 2025, revealing a major flaw in its security infrastructure.
The breach, first reported by TechCrunch, involved a legacy data system that stored information from over two years ago. Among the leaked data are 13,000 selfies and ID photos used for account verification, raising serious concerns about user privacy and potential misuse of personal information.
Tea, which recently skyrocketed to the top of Apple’s App Store as the most popular free app in the U.S., has been lauded for empowering women to discuss and flag unsafe dating experiences. However, this incident has cast a shadow over its mission, with experts warning that such breaches could undermine trust in platforms meant to prioritize user safety.
The company has stated that it is investigating the breach and working to secure its systems to prevent future incidents. Cybersecurity analysts suggest that the exposed data could be exploited for identity theft or other malicious activities, urging affected users to monitor their personal accounts for suspicious activity.
Public reaction has been swift, with many expressing outrage over the violation of privacy on a platform built for women’s safety. Posts on social media platforms like X highlight the irony of a dating safety app becoming a source of vulnerability, with calls for stricter regulations on data protection in such apps.
As the investigation unfolds, Tea faces mounting pressure to address the fallout and rebuild trust with its millions of users. This breach serves as a stark reminder of the challenges tech companies face in balancing innovation with robust security measures in an era of increasing cyber threats.
Alfred Lee
