Venmo still isn't taking privacy seriously

"Venmo's new redesign adds features that lean into that supposed social element. Transactions in your payments feed get larger images and even animated GIFs. I really wish Venmo would focus more on what users deserve privacy by default! instead of more emojis. The newest update finally does something Venmo should have done at least a decade ago: It makes the default setting for transactions "visible to friends only" instead of "public" for new users when they sign up for the app."

"Keep in mind that it isn't even really private the default isn't set to "only me." When I put my concerns to Venmo, the company said the new settings give people more choice. "Venmo customers have full control over what they share and who can see their activity, and the new app experience enhances how customers can manage their privacy settings," Erin Mackey, a spokesperson for Venmo, told Business Insider."

""New users will also default to 'friends only,' reflecting what we heard from customers. Whether they prefer to share publicly, with friends, or keep their activity private, privacy settings are easy to find and update at any time." When Venmo first launched, having a social element seemed like a fun gimmick, a playful and cute relic of the early 2010s when adding a social layer to everything was a big trend."

"But in 2026, I have no idea why any reasonable person would want anyone even friends to view their financial transactions. All your contacts are still public by default when you sign up That's not even my biggest gripe. Venmo isn't making a change for its new users that I think it absolutely should: making friends lists private by default. Keep in mind there's no such thing as a "private" Venmo accou"

Venmo’s redesign emphasizes a social feed by making transactions appear with larger images and animated GIFs. The update changes the default visibility for new users so transactions are visible to friends only rather than public. The default is not set to only the user, and contacts remain public by default when signing up. The privacy concern centers on financial activity being viewable by others, even friends, and on the lack of a truly private default experience. Venmo states users have full control over what they share and who can see their activity, and that privacy settings are easy to find and update at any time.

Read at www.businessinsider.com