Before the data breach, Tea reported a "massive surge in growth" in recent weeks, as the app gained attention through videos and discussions on social media about dating and gender dynamics. The app was listed as the "top free app in Apple's download charts", said The New York Times, "and was also highly ranked in the Google Play store".

The Tea app has shut down its messaging service after another database filled with sensitive info has been leaked online.

Around 72,000 selfies and ID photos were exposed after being stored in a "legacy data system" containing information from more than two years ago. Recent DMs might also have been accessed.