Geni should standardize the defaults in the three ways of adding Profiles (from the arrows in Tree View, from More to Add Immediate Family in Tree View, and from Add Family on the Overview Tab), and have the box for "This is a public profile" plus the line for status choice (Living Deceased) shown on all three ways - filled in however Geni is defaulting, there so folks can see and edit as appropriate as they are creating Profiles.
Many folks are unpleasantly surprised and upset to discover Profiles they wanted to be Private have been created as Public.; and many folks are similarly surprised and upset to discover the opposite. This will allow people to see how Geni is defaulting the Profile as it is being created, and to change it at that time, if they object to the default.