Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of a dating app called "Tea," which allows women to receive warnings about potential male partners based on previous user experiences, contrasting it with the earlier app "LULU" [1][5][12]. Group 1: Product Overview - "Tea" was launched in 2023 by former Salesforce product manager Sean Cook, inspired by his mother's negative online dating experiences [2][5]. - The app focuses on helping women avoid potentially dangerous individuals rather than facilitating connections, currently serving only female users [2][12]. - "Tea" has gained significant traction, reaching the top of the iOS download charts in the U.S. and achieving a daily download rate of 170,000, which is over 20 times the previous month's average [5][17]. Group 2: Features and Functionality - The app allows users to view male profiles with flags indicating whether they are considered "dangerous" or "safe" by the community, which has raised concerns about privacy and potential defamation [12][15]. - "Tea" includes features such as reverse image search and background checks, but many of these require a subscription fee of $15 per month [16][20]. - The app has a strict user verification process, requiring photo uploads for gender confirmation and limiting male user access [20][21]. Group 3: Market Position and Growth - "Tea" has quickly amassed a waiting list of 900,000 users within a week, significantly outpacing "LULU," which took a year to reach a similar milestone [17][18]. - The app's growth has been fueled by social media discussions, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where it has engaged influencers to promote its safety features [19][21]. - The timing of "Tea's" rise coincided with heightened public interest in relationship safety, influenced by recent scandals involving public figures [18][22]. Group 4: Challenges and Controversies - Despite its popularity, "Tea" faces challenges related to user privacy and potential legal issues, having reported an average of three lawsuits per week [23][24]. - The app recently experienced a significant data breach, compromising 72,000 images, which has raised concerns about the security of its user base [24].