Photo: Moment RF
A new app that allows women to post reviews and warnings about men they've dated is going viral.
The women-only safety app, called Tea, allows users to share "red flags" and "green flags" about the men they've dated, along with reviews, dating stories, and friend testimonials.
Tea currently holds the No. 1 spot in Apple's App Store and boasts over 4 million users.
Cid Walker, a 22-year-old from Cleveland, said she was shocked to see so many familiar faces on the app.
“Like, oh my God, I would never think all this stuff about them,” Walker said.
When users open they app, they are able to see photos and first names of local men. Women can leave comments about the men, varying from "He's cute" to "He's a cheater," or questions like “What clubs does he go to?”
Tea users can also use the information on the app to run criminal background checks or reverse-search photos for potential catfishing. To sign up for the app, women are required to submit selfies for verification, which Tea says helps prevent fake accounts. Selfies are deleted after review to keep user identities anonymous.
The Tea app was created by Sean Cook, who said he was inspired by his mother’s “terrifying experience with online dating,” including being catfished and unknowingly dating men with criminal records.
The app has sparked backlash from men for potentially spreading misinformation and devolving into gossip instead of safety.
“I feel like if people were to use the app how it’s supposed to be used, this could actually save a lot of women from being hurt or harmed,” Walker said. “But at this point, I think it’s like a joke to everybody and just like cyberbullying.”
On its website, the company calls itself “more than an app; it’s a sisterhood” and claims to donate 10 percent of profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
“Together, we’re redefining modern dating,” the Tea app says.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.