Login credentials have become a significant part of our everyday lives. They keep our information safe (supposedly), and allow us access to our acｃounts from almost anywhere. But in many marriages, these passwords become a barrier to intimacy.
I know that we’ve all gone security crazy over the past couple of decades, and it’s quite possible you’re thinking I’m nuts to suggest married couples share their acｃount info. But security and privacy are two different things. If a person tells me that they aren’t sharing their internet acｃounts with their spouse because they have reason to believe their spouse will harm them in some way, that makes sense. You need to be safe.
But when a person tells me that they aren’t giving their spouse access to their Facebook acｃount because they deserve their privacy, I’m calling a flag on the play.
What privacy? I don’t remember that being part of the marriage deal. When I get up in the morning, my wife sees me in all my unadorned, pudgy gutted, hairy-legged, bad-breath surrounded glory. If ever there were a time when she might wish that I would want privacy… that might be it. But the truth is marriage and privacy don’t really mix.
When you choose to spend the rest of your life in emotionally and physically intimate contact with another person, transparency is simply part of what you bargain for.
My wife and I made a decision a long time ago to share our acｃount information and passwords for email and social media acｃounts. There are no corners of the internet to which only I have the key. As far as I know, my wife might be accessing my Facebook right now. If she is… good for her.
I want her to feel that she has the ability to see what’s going on in my life. She can read my emails if she’d like. She can view my internet history if she wants. An invasion of my privacy? I don’t think so. It’s an invitation to intimacy.
And there’s another added benefit… by giving her access to my internet activity, I have increased my acｃountability in this area. It reminds me not to make online decisions I wouldn’t want my wife to see. That’s a pretty strong incentive to do the right thing.
Oh, I know that we’ve all grown up hearing that “character is what you do when no one else is watching,” but character is also our willingness to invite others to examine our actions. Chaperones may be out of style in the current dating culture, but you have to admit, their presence did have a way of keeping things G rated.
I know that sharing acｃount information isn’t always possible. Your work may have strict guidelines about your login credentials and email acｃounts. I’m certainly not suggesting you break those rules.
And if you’re in a relationship with an abuser or user who would use your personal information against you or harm you in some way, I’m also not suggesting you give them the keys to your online presence. I’m talking to people like me… people who have recreational acｃounts—personal email, Facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. People who have no good reason to block their spouse from having access.
If that’s you, I’m just making the humble suggestion that giving your spouse access to your online life may be one of the greatest ways you can build trust in your relationship.
What’s your opinion? Do you think it’s wise for spouses to share social media acｃounts and email?
Article Source: http://lifeinacrazyworld.com/should-husbands-and-wives-know-each-others-internet-passwords/
Image Source: http://lifeinacrazyworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/internetpasswords.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Barrier (n.) ~ a circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress
2. Pudgy (adj. informal) ~ (of a person or part of their body) slightly fat
3. Incentive (n.) ~ a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something
4. Chaperone (n.) ~ a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group of people
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. How do you feel about sharing your email and social media passwords with your spouse or partner? Explain your opinion.
2. Banking acｃounts are also private information. However, do you think that couples should be aware of the financial status and spending habits of each other? Discuss your idea.
3. What are the risks of sharing these kinds of information with someone?
4. Some people argue that sharing passwords is necessary in case some unforeseen incident occurred. If you would share this information to someone, who would it be and why?
