Venmo privacy – Venmo is testing a redesign that defaults new users’ posts to friends-only, with clearer visibility controls and staged app updates.
Venmo is rolling out a redesign that signals a clear shift in how it thinks about privacy: when new users join, their posts will no longer start out public by default.
Under the updated onboarding flow being tested. new users’ posts will be set to “viewable by their friends only” instead of being public.. For anyone who prefers a different level of visibility. the onboarding process will also allow a choice to make posts public or private to just themselves.. After the fact, users will be able to change that preference from the app’s settings.
This matters because Venmo has previously faced criticism over how much user activity could be seen by people outside their intended circle.. In 2021. it was reported that BuzzFeed News identified President Joe Biden’s Venmo account and accounts tied to people in his inner circle. with the report specifically pointing to a lack of mechanisms at the time for keeping Venmo contacts private.
Venmo has since moved to address the privacy gap that allowed that kind of exposure, and the redesign aims to make control feel more immediate for users from day one. The company is positioning the changes around restoring user trust by giving people more say over what they share.
Alongside the onboarding overhaul. Venmo says it will update the sending experience so that privacy visibility is apparent before money is transferred.. An updated screen for sending money will show whether a post will be private. visible only to friends. or visible publicly—so users understand how their activity will be displayed in Venmo feeds before they confirm a transaction.
Venmo’s rollout is planned in stages, beginning with a gradual change to the app’s feed. That first wave is expected to reach iOS and Android over the coming weeks through a phased deployment rather than a single, instant switch.
Beyond the feed redesign, Venmo also plans to introduce three new “surfaces” inside the app: Send, Money, and Rewards. The Send surface is described as a place to see close friends and access features such as groups, gifting, and scheduled payments.
The Money surface is intended for broader account management tasks, including handling crypto and linking Venmo to other apps and websites. Rewards, meanwhile, would focus on offers and help users track cash back connected to Venmo’s rewards program.
Venmo’s leadership framed the redesign as more than a visual refresh. Alexis Sowa, SVP and GM of Venmo, told The Verge that privacy is tied to user trust—adding that the company needs users to have both visibility and control over what they share.
Sowa also described the redesign as preparation for an expanded set of consumer needs.. Venmo has long been associated with splitting bills after shared real-world moments. but the company says it wants to embrace a wider set of use cases. including sending and spending money. saving. borrowing. and investing.
In this context, the privacy changes appear designed to support that broader ambition.. If Venmo is going to play a larger role across different kinds of financial activity. users are likely to expect clearer defaults and more granular control over what their activity communicates to their social network.
The privacy default for new users also highlights a common shift in consumer platforms: rather than forcing people to hunt for the right setting. platforms are increasingly setting expectations through onboarding.. By making the “friends-only” choice automatic at signup. Venmo is effectively reducing the chance of unintended public sharing during the early stages of using the service.
Venmo said it was asked to clarify which stage of the redesign includes the new onboarding privacy process. Sources indicate Venmo would update coverage after responding, underscoring that while the company has outlined the direction, details may vary by rollout phase.
For now. the takeaway for users is straightforward: Venmo is testing an onboarding flow that defaults posts to friends-only visibility. adds clearer privacy indicators in the money-sending flow. and rolls out larger app changes gradually through feed updates and new in-app surfaces—starting first on iOS and Android.
Venmo privacy app redesign onboarding controls social sharing settings iOS and Android rollout financial app features