How Americans are using Cash App and Venmo to practice direct giving to one another in a new way, as an alternative to giving through charitable institutions
In 2020, Venmoing total strangers in need became a radical act of support — and trust — aised in a six-bedroom mansion … Tweets: @dlberes , @ozm , @doctoryasmin , @gaetaamy , @caitlindewey , @ozm , @daniellesacks , @dannygroner , and @ozm Tweets: @dlberes : Charity ain't what it used to be. (And maybe that's a good thing.) This fantastic new feature from @caitlindewey explores how social media and apps like Venmo have sparked direct-giving and mutual aid revolutions 💰 💰 💰 https://onezero.medium.com/... OneZero / @ozm : The coronavirus pandemic has mainstreamed direct giving via peer-to-peer payment apps. “In 2020, Venmoing total strangers in need became a radical act of support — and trust.” https://read.medium.com/zf6d4jS Dr. Seema Yasmin / @doctoryasmin : “In 2020, Venmoing total strangers in need became a radical act of support — and trust.” New downloads of apps like Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle grew 94% between March and October. https://read.medium.com/zf6d4jS Amy Gaeta / @gaetaamy : Loved chatting with @caitlindewey about mutual aid's roots in anarchism & its virtual revival for her new @ozm piece about how virtual communities & cash apps are expanding networks of radical trust and the act of giving without exchange or personal gain. https://onezero.medium.com/... Caitlin Dewey Rainwater / @caitlindewey : Wrote about the truly meteoric rise of direct digital giving in the pandemic — people Venmo and CashApping total strangers with help. Includes: Russian anarchists, 100 years of philanthropic history and an extremely chill multimillionaire named Jake. https://onezero.medium.com/... OneZero / @ozm : The phenomenon encompasses a range of distinct practices, from formalized mutual aid networks and so-called “reparations” payments to ad hoc appeals for the internet's help. https://read.medium.com/zf6d4jS Danielle Sacks / @daniellesacks : “The coronavirus pandemic has mainstreamed a once-radical form of charity — or solidarity, depending on your politics and vantage point — in which strangers use peer-to-peer payment apps to give money directly, and instantly, to each other.” https://onezero.medium.com/... Danny Groner / @dannygroner : “23-year-old Claire Sundbye, a retail worker and recent college graduate, griped on Twitter that someone stole an Uber Eats order she already couldn't afford; strangers offered to cover the cost of both her grocery bill and a replacement order.” https://onezero.medium.com/... OneZero / @ozm : New downloads of payment apps including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle grew 94% between March and October, per @Apptopia. Venmo even planned a spring marketing stunt around giving called #venmoitforward. https://read.medium.com/zf6d4jS