Tea App vs Lulu: Complete History of Women Rating Men Dating Apps
The concept of women anonymously rating men they've dated isn't new. Before Tea, there was Lulu. Understanding this history helps explain why these apps keep emerging—and failing.
Lulu: The Original "Rate My Date" App (2013-2016)
The Rise
Lulu launched in February 2013, founded by Alexandra Chong. At its peak:
- 6+ million women across US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Brazil
- Men rated on a 1-10 scale with hashtag descriptors
- Categories included appearance, humor, commitment, and more
How It Worked
The platform automatically imported men's profiles from Facebook—without their consent—and allowed women to rate them. Men had no idea they were being rated until someone told them.
Rating categories included:
- #KinkyInTheRightWays
- #CheaperThanABigMac
- #StillLovestHisMom
- #WearsEdHardy
Why Lulu Failed
Legal challenges:
- Privacy lawsuits from angry men
- Brazil banned the app entirely
- Multiple countries investigated privacy violations
Platform problems:
- Facebook restricted API access
- Couldn't monetize effectively
- Men refused to use the companion app
Lulu was acquired by Badoo in February 2016 and quietly shut down.
Tea App: Lulu 2.0 (2023-Present)
Learning from Lulu's Mistakes
Tea, launched by Sean Cook in 2023, implemented changes:
- AI facial recognition + ID verification (vs. Facebook only)
- Users must manually post (vs. auto-imported profiles)
- Red/green flag system (vs. numeric ratings)
- Screenshot blocking technology
The Numbers
- 4.6+ million users by July 2025
- Reached #1 on App Store
- Then came the data breaches...
The 2025 Data Breach
In July 2025, Tea suffered catastrophic breaches:
- 72,000+ images exposed, including government IDs
- 1.1 million private messages leaked
- User verification data compromised
Apple removed the app from the App Store in October 2025.
Why This Pattern Keeps Repeating
1. Genuine Safety Concerns
Women face real risks in dating. The desire for information about potential partners is legitimate, even if the implementation is problematic.
2. Digital Whisper Networks
These apps digitize informal reputation sharing that has always existed. Friends warning friends about bad dates is ancient; apps just scale it.
3. Section 230 Protection
U.S. law shields platforms from liability for user content. This makes launching such apps legally viable, at least initially.
4. Venture Capital Interest
"Women's safety" narratives attract funding. Investors see large addressable markets and emotional engagement.
What History Teaches Us
Apps Don't Last Forever
Lulu lasted 3 years. Tea's future is uncertain after App Store removal. Content posted today may be orphaned tomorrow.
Data Breaches Are Common
Both platforms had security issues. Information shared "anonymously" rarely stays that way.
Successor Apps Will Emerge
If Tea disappears, something else will replace it. The pattern repeats.
Legal Precedents Matter
Court cases from Lulu's era may help with Tea removal efforts.
The Bottom Line
Tea is Lulu 2.0—a more sophisticated version of an app that ultimately couldn't survive its own controversy. The pattern is clear:
- App launches with "women's safety" angle
- Rapid growth fueled by viral content
- Legal and privacy issues mount
- Platform fails or pivots
- New app emerges to fill the void
If you're posted on Tea, act quickly. These platforms have limited lifespans, but content can spread beyond them before they disappear.