Social media has evolved through the years and become second life for some people. We communicate, share and post almost everything that goes on in our lives. From funny videos to something completely personal, we let the world know. But what happens when your significant other tries to restrict this freedom?
Today’s relationships require more levels of trust and attention. A boyfriend or girlfriend may want to meddle in your online affairs. Is it really their right or any of their business to do so? The answer is no, and giving him or her access to your social media passwords definitely crosses boundaries.
When your significant other asks for your social media passwords, it’s a red flag. In the beginning, it might seem harmless to give him or her access into your personal life, but soon it can get overbearing, and they will be snooping through your whole life. It’s not like you are intending to keep your life a mystery, but some things should remain yours and yours alone. It’s very controlling for a significant other to want to look through your social media, especially without probable cause.
Believe it or not, a significant other requesting access to passwords is a small, yet significant, proposition heading towards a controlling relationship. Even if you have nothing suspicious on your social media, your partner could find the most harmless of posts and still find some way to blame you for supposed ill-mannered behavior. Misconstrued behaviors often include liking a social media post from the opposite sex, retweeting a picture or meme about something or even posting pictures of yourself they deem inappropriate for others to see. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to see everything you post, they can follow or subscribe to you like everyone else.
College students face this controversial issue more than almost every other age range, according to Loveisrespect.org.
According to the website, “One in three dating college students has given a dating partner their computer, online access, email or social network passwords and these students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse.”
More than half of all college students say it is difficult to identify dating abuse, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Most students have no idea invading his or her partner’s online activities is a form of dating abuse. They may see it has a form of devotion to their partner, but it is wrong and takes advantage of the other person.
Thirty-eight percent of those students do not know how to get help after things have gone too far, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Sadly, 58 percent of college students say they wouldn’t know what to do if someone they knew was a victim of dating abuse, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
These statistics will likely get higher as time goes on, because things get out of control as couples progress into invading each other’s space. Do not become a statistic. If your boyfriend or girlfriend really loves you, they will respect your space and boundaries.
Kiana Naquin is a 20-year-old English sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.