Venmo is introducing major changes to its settings privacy for new users, making posts visible only to friends (rather than public) . The change comes as part of a major redesign of the app and is a response to long-standing criticism of the platform’s privacy issues . The move marks a radical shift in philosophy for the company, which for more than a decade has relied on the social nature of transactions as its main competitive advantage.
Venmo , owned by PayPal , was originally a social app that allowed users to share their transactions publicly. This feature, similar to Facebook , allowed anyone to see payments and comments, creating serious privacy concerns. Initially seen as innovative and fun, the model soon proved problematic as users unwittingly revealed sensitive information. In 2021 , BuzzFeed News reporters were able to track down the accounts of President Joe Biden and his close associates through public transactions, sparking a national scandal and accelerating reform.
Venmo ’s new redesign will roll out gradually, starting with a new look for the feed that will gradually roll out to iOS and Android over the coming weeks. New users will be able to choose whether they want their posts to be public or private during the sign-up process, and they can change those preferences in settings. The onboarding process will now include clear explanations for each privacy level , helping users understand the implications of their choices. This “ privacy by design ” approach reflects modern best practices in the technology industry.
New features and privacy improvements in Venmo
Alexis Sowa, SVP and GM of Venmo, explained that the changes are aimed at giving users “more visibility and control over what they share,” emphasizing that trust is critical to the Venmo experience. The updated screen for sending money will also show whether the post is private, visible only to friends, or public before the transaction. This addition of real-time privacy notifications is a significant improvement in transparency, as many users were previously unaware of the level of publicity of their transactions.
See also: Venmo and PayPal Integration: Protect Yourself from Fraud
The app will introduce three new “surfaces”: Send, where users can see their closest friends and find features like groups, gifts, and scheduled payments; Money, where they can manage cryptocurrency and connect Venmo to apps and websites; and Rewards, where they can find deals and track cash back from their rewards program. This reorganization reflects the company’s strategy to evolve from a simple account separation app to a comprehensive financial platform.
See also: Hackers exploit Venmo for phishing attacks
Venmo 's new approach to privacy is a significant step in the right direction, though experts say more changes are needed. The EFF notes that while the "friends only" option reduces public exposure, friend networks can still infer habits and personal information.
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According to The Verge's report, these changes are part of a broader strategy to make Venmo more competitive and reliable in the rapidly evolving digital payments sector.
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