Vice Presidential Nominee’s Public Venmo Feed Raises Concerns About Privacy
As the Republican National Convention takes place, Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance is making headlines not just for his policy proposals and soundbites, but also for leaving his Venmo feed public, revealing connections to tech executives, fellow Ivy League-educated lawyers, and the institution behind the controversial Project 2025.
A Disconnect Between Rhetoric and Reality
According to a recent report by Wired, Vance’s public Venmo feed shows a disconnect between his anti-elite rhetoric and his actual network. Venmo, a popular peer-to-peer payment app, allows users to share their transactions and friends list publicly by default. Users must opt-in to make their feed private.
A Reminder to Check Your Privacy Settings
The public Venmo feed of J.D. Vance serves as a reminder to double-check your privacy settings on the apps you use. Financial transactions are typically private matters, but Venmo turned them into a social network. The app’s public stream can often give clues about who is dating who and what friends are hanging out together.
Access to Sensitive Information
Access to anyone’s social connections can reveal sensitive private information and expose them to security risks. For a politician or executive, it can reveal even more sensitive information. Jennifer Lynch, general counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warned that access to anyone’s social connections can reveal sensitive private information and expose them to security risks.
How to Make Your Venmo Account Private
To make your Venmo account private, follow these steps:
- Open the app and go to Settings.
- Tap on Privacy.
- Make "Private" the default for Transactions and Friends List.
- Under Friends List, toggle off the option to appear in other users’ lists.
Additional Privacy Tips
Additional privacy plays include not sharing your contacts list with the app and not sharing your location. It’s essential to be mindful of your privacy settings on all apps you use, not just Venmo.
Conclusion
The public Venmo feed of J.D. Vance serves as a reminder to prioritize privacy in the digital age. While the average user may not be connected to world leaders and high-level decision-makers, they still should make their accounts private to protect their sensitive information.
FAQs
Q: Why is it essential to make my Venmo account private?
A: Making your Venmo account private protects your sensitive information and prevents it from being shared publicly.
Q: How do I make my Venmo account private?
A: To make your Venmo account private, follow the steps outlined in the article: open the app, go to Settings, tap on Privacy, and make "Private" the default for Transactions and Friends List.
Q: What are some additional privacy tips for Venmo users?
A: Additional privacy tips include not sharing your contacts list with the app and not sharing your location.
Q: Why is it important to prioritize privacy in the digital age?
A: Prioritizing privacy in the digital age is essential to protect your sensitive information and prevent it from being shared publicly.
Author: fortune.com
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