The Tea app, “the safest place to spill tea,” is sparking backlash as men claim false posts are damaging reputations and mental health.
The Tea app has recently gained popularity, especially among college students. Designed exclusively for women, the app requires users to upload a photo of themselves to verify their gender before creating an anonymous username.
Once verified, users can post photos of men along with their names and ages. Other users can then comment on the post and rate the man using a “red flag” or “green flag” system. The app also allows searches by name, age, location or rating scale.
Founder Sean Cook created the app after he watched his mother’s negative online dating experiences. She had been catfished and unknowingly interacted with men who had criminal records, inspiring Cook to design an app aimed at protecting women and promoting accountability in dating.
When it comes to women supporting the app, many users online have said it helps them look out for one another. Several posts on TikTok describe Tea as a space where women can “have each other’s backs” and share warnings about unsafe or dishonest men.
Lauren Erickson, a sophomore exercise science major from Afton, Wyoming, said: “I wish it existed when I was a freshman. Even though it is anonymous, which can be scary, it can help girls in the community from getting into bad situations.”
While the app has received positive feedback from many women, it has also sparked controversy. Some men have spoken out after discovering their names and photos on the platform, claiming that false or damaging rumors were being spread about them. Because Tea is only accessible to verified female users, the men featured have little ability to respond or defend themselves publicly.
Brandon Christensen, Booth Wellness Center mental health counselor, said being judged by someone is difficult, but it is worse when that judgment is from a larger group of people.
“It is considered paranoia if you always believe that someone is thinking about you in a negative light; with this particular app, it actually might be true that a number of people might view you negatively, thus making it difficult to walk around in the open with a positive self-concept,” he said.
Christensen said that when a person’s belief that they’re a good person is questioned in front of others, it can deeply shake their confidence and identity. It is also known that men die by suicide at four times the rate of women.
“If the person is being labeled as a ‘bad person’ then the underlying assumption would be that they don’t deserve the privilege of being with other people and should be considered a pariah, and unworthy of basic kindness and compassion,” Christensen said.
Christian Pearce, a senior communication studies major from Oceanside, California, said that his opinion on gossip apps is negative due to the effect it has on men’s mental health.
“I can understand it comes from a place of good intentions — of just safety, keeping people up to date with people that have a past or, you know, what they need to be aware of,” he said. “But I think the wrong people got their hands on it and now it’s kind of overblown it to a point where all we see now is just people trying to hurt others.”
Jaxon Peebler, a senior media studies major from West Jordan, said he thinks the app can take a toll on men’s mental health, particularly when people lie. He said that when people spread false information, it can cause others to lose friendships and feel discouraged about finding relationships.
Peebler said: “If what people are saying is true, they may live with that guilt already and want to see themselves as a better person, but if they keep getting poked like a bear, it can constantly wear on their mental health.”
Christensen said these gossip apps contribute to depression, avoidance and isolation that are all natural consequences of feeling shame about oneself. Researchers found that people who rely heavily on social media often lose real-life support systems and turn to online validation instead. While in-person support was tied to lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, virtual support showed no real benefit to mental health.
The Apple App Store removed the Tea and TeaOnHer apps on Tuesday for failing to meet its requirements around content moderation and user privacy. According to Apple, the company received many complaints about minors’ personal information being posted. The apps remain available on Google Play.
If you are experiencing sadness or distress, reach out to 988 or contact the Booth Wellness Center. You can also speak with your campus advocates, such as the dean of students or the Title IX office.
