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".

Tea's investigation of the incident found that app users' direct messages had been breached, along with some of their photos. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the affected system offline," San Francisco-based Tea said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.

Messaging has been turned off on the women's dating safety app Tea, following a hack which has exposed thousands of members' images, posts and comments.