Why Is There a Social Aspect to Venmo?

My new favorite hobby is to scroll through complete strangers’ Venmo transactions and like them. I’ve liked ones that feature descriptions as benign as “Lawn care” and as salacious as “Girl, you don’t need him anymore!” In the past week I’ve probably done this fifty-or-so times.

I also enjoy liking payments my friends make, and for those ones, I’m even allowed to comment as well. My sister recently paid someone for babysitting. I thought that was pretty great, so I liked it and wrote, “Babysiitting…Classic Jenny!” I have no idea if my sister Jenny even noticed my comment, but that’s beside the point. I cackled with absolute glee after making my post, and that was enough.

Some people just like to watch the world burn.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Why is Colin doing this? What is the point.” You might also be thinking, “Colin needs to find better hobbies and/or a purpose in life.” Both of those thoughts are entirely valid.

But I’m wondering something else, which is Why am I allowed to like or comment on anyone’s financial transactions in the first place?

As far as I can tell, there is no upside to this functionality. As a quick and convenient way for me to send and receive money with friends and family, Venmo is fantastic. It has absolutely improved my life. But as a social utility, it offers nothing. Which is why, in ironically hypocritical fashion, I long ago made all of my Venmo payments confidential. No one can like or comment on any transactions I make.

Because why the hell would I want that?

In a way, Venmo’s social features remind me of the Kardashians. Much like Kim and her family are famous for being famous, Venmo’s social aspects exist to exist. Both are useless.

Except, perhaps, in one way.

Fans of the Kardashian clan seem to follow them because of the drama and chaos that ensue. They are cheap entertainment.

In a similar vein, this is why, in my quarantine-induced inertia, I have settled into liking Venmo payments as a quick 5-minute diversion. I like strangers’ Venmo payments in the hope that, for even a moment, they will see my like and experience a micro-moment of panic. Who is this man? Why did he like this payment? Did he help with that lawn care??  Ever so briefly, anarchy is loosed, and I am amused.

This might be the best defense for Venmo’s social aspects to be present. As a chaos generator. Unfortunately, that’s a poor justification for something to exist.