this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2025
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Users from 4chan claim to have discovered an exposed database hosted on Google’s mobile app development platform, Firebase, belonging to the newly popular women’s dating safety app Tea. Users say they are rifling through peoples’ personal data and selfies uploaded to the app, and then posting that data online, according to screenshots, 4chan posts, and code reviewed by 404 Media.

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[–] gnu@lemmy.zip 143 points 1 day ago (2 children)

People sign up to app intended to share personal information about others without their permission, end up having their own personal information shared without permission - the irony is impressive.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 94 points 1 day ago (1 children)

At first I was going to call bullshit because I thought you were exaggerating and being ridiculous.

Nope. That's the app. "Anonymous" sharing of pictures and info of other people. Presumably without their permission. That's fucked up.

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 40 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Yeah. I mean, I get it. The concept of the app makes sense. And I would be that, on average, it is/would be used for good.

On the other hand, as a guy, the idea that people are out there sharing reviews of me as a person on the open internet, and I have no way of knowing this, is deeply unsettling. Like, I haven't done anything wrong - just the whole concept feels very gross.

[–] Donkter@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago

Especially because the app is called "tea", like the slang term for gossip. The letter of the intention may have been good but the whole thing is toxic.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago

My problem is how it's implemented.

An app where you simply post a name and a location, and then people can DM you with their experiences directly, would be a lot less invasive.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago

That's terrible.

Have an upvote.

[–] Zomg@piefed.world 17 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

I think it depends on people's intent and purpose for using this service. I'm overall not a fan of someone taking and sharing pictures of me without my consent, or making claims that can't be defended...

The group of women legitimately using it for safety is fine, in a general sense.

The group of women using it as gossip and entertainment is not.

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 29 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

Considering that "tea" is common slang for gossip I'm not convinced there was many of the ~~latter~~ former.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Given that the app name is slang for gossip, you're not convinced there were many women using it for gossip?

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 4 points 17 hours ago

Thanks I fixed it

[–] lunardroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 19 hours ago

It makes sense using it for safety, but I would worry about whether all the information on there is accurate. Most of the feedback on the app is probably negative, I doubt anyone would really post anything on Tea that's positive about their former partner. But people like to believe they are in the right. Someone who got in a fight with their partner might post something on Tea that isn't accurate, but makes them feel better since they can spin the story how they want, and make the other person at fault. However, unlike regular social media, the person being attacked by their partner on Tea has no idea that it happened, and no way to refute what was said. It promotes the opposite of any type of communication between partners after a fight or breakup. It promotes safety, but at the same time it promotes some toxicity in relationships. What would you think if you knew that if your got into a disagreement with your partner that you could end up posted on this app, without any way of arguing back?