Tea App vs Lulu: The Complete History of Women Rating Men Dating Apps
Tea isn't the first app to let women anonymously rate and review men—it's the successor to Lulu, which dominated headlines a decade ago before shutting down. Understanding this history reveals why Tea exists, what mistakes Lulu made, and what this means for men caught up in these platforms.
Lulu: The Original "Rate My Date" App (2013-2016)
Before Tea, there was Lulu—an app launched in February 2013 by Alexandra Chong that allowed women to anonymously rate men they'd dated using hashtags like #KinkyInTheRightWays or #CheaperThanABigMac.
Lulu App Key Facts
- Launch: February 2013
- Founder: Alexandra Chong
- Peak Users: 6+ million women
- Countries: US, UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil
- Shutdown: February 2016
- Rating System: 1-10 scale with hashtag descriptors
How Lulu Worked
Lulu connected to Facebook and automatically pulled in men's profiles—without their consent. Women could then rate these men on categories like:
- Appearance - Physical attractiveness rating
- Humor - How funny they were
- Commitment - Relationship readiness
- First Kiss - Intimate quality ratings
- Manners - Social behavior assessment
Why Lulu Shut Down
Lulu faced mounting pressure from multiple directions that ultimately led to its demise:
Legal Challenges
- • Privacy lawsuits in multiple countries
- • Banned in Brazil for privacy violations
- • Facebook API changes blocked data access
- • Defamation threats from rated men
Business Problems
- • Couldn't monetize without alienating users
- • Men fled dating apps where they were rated
- • Reputation as "revenge" platform
- • Acquired by Badoo, then quietly shut down
Tea App: Lulu's Successor (2023-Present)
Seven years after Lulu's shutdown, Sean Cook launched Tea Dating Advice in 2023—learning from Lulu's mistakes while doubling down on the core concept of women reviewing men.
What Tea Learned From Lulu
Key Differences From Lulu:
- Women-Only Verification: AI facial recognition ensures only women can join (Lulu let anyone with a female Facebook profile join)
- No Automatic Profiles: Men aren't pulled from Facebook—they're posted by users
- Screenshot Blocking: Technical measures prevent easy sharing (Lulu screenshots went viral constantly)
- Safety Framing: Positioned as "safety tool" not "rating app"
- Criminal Background Checks: Added legitimate safety features alongside reviews
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Lulu (2013-2016) | Tea (2023-Present) |
|---|---|---|
| User Verification | Facebook login only | AI facial + ID verification |
| How Men Appear | Auto-imported from Facebook | Manually posted by users |
| Rating System | 1-10 numerical + hashtags | Red/Green flags + text |
| Screenshot Policy | Allowed freely | Technically blocked |
| Peak Users | ~6 million | 4.6+ million |
| Data Breaches | None reported | 72K images + 1.1M messages (2025) |
| Current Status | Shut down (2016) | Operating with legal issues |
The Repeating Pattern: Why These Apps Keep Appearing
Lulu and Tea aren't isolated incidents—they're part of a recurring pattern in tech. Here's why these apps keep emerging:
1. Real Safety Concerns
Women face genuine risks in dating—stalking, assault, deception. Apps like Tea address a real need, which is why they attract millions despite controversy.
2. "Whisper Network" Goes Digital
Women have always shared information about problematic men informally. These apps simply digitize what was already happening in friend groups and communities.
3. Platform Immunity (Section 230)
US law protects platforms from liability for user-generated content. This makes it legally viable to host potentially defamatory reviews without the platform facing lawsuits.
4. Venture Capital Interest
"Safety for women" is an attractive pitch to investors. Both Lulu and Tea received significant funding despite (or because of) their controversial nature.
What This History Means for You
If you've been posted on Tea, understanding this history is important:
Key Takeaways
- These apps don't last forever - Lulu lasted 3 years. Tea may face the same fate, but your posts could persist elsewhere.
- Data breaches are common - Tea already had worse breaches than Lulu ever did. Your information may already be exposed.
- Successors will emerge - Even if Tea shuts down, another app will likely take its place. Removal now prevents future migration.
- Legal precedents exist - Lulu's legal battles created precedents that can help you fight Tea posts.
The Bottom Line
Tea is Lulu 2.0—a more sophisticated version of an app that ultimately couldn't survive its own controversy. While Tea has learned from some of Lulu's mistakes, it's also created new problems (massive data breaches, more invasive content) that may lead to a similar fate.
For men caught in these platforms, the lesson is clear: act quickly. Lulu's content largely disappeared when the app shut down, but Tea's data breaches mean your information may have already spread beyond the app itself.