When Did Sharing Become Dangerous?

We should all know the dangers of the internet by now regarding passwords, but is it really a “danger” to share them?

A recent article in the New York Times tells that password sharing among teens has increased and has the potential to go wrong. The article can be found here.

My opinion is that it is perfectly healthy to share an online password for things like email and social networking site with a boyfriend/girlfriend. It gives confidence in the relationship and feel that it makes it stronger.  I’m not talking about meeting someone, going on a couple dates, then exchanging passwords, but in a serious relationship I think it makes it stronger because there is the trust factor.

Of course there always needs to be boundaries to everything when it comes to a relationship. If two people are going to share online passwords, there needs to be some rules attached.  I suggest either party can only access the other’s account when distrust is felt and only to either confirm, or deny the feelings.

In today’s social media world, online profiles can be protected by simply having an email or text sent out when ever an unknown device accesses the account.  So the user knows when another person uses an unknown computer or device to log in so it’s not a secret.

I have not shared my Facebook or Twitter account with my girlfriend but we both know each other’s cell phone passwords which would allow us to view social media websites that are linked to the phones. I’m completely comfortable because I have nothing to hide and have no reason to believe she has anything to hide either. 

So is password sharing “dangerous”? I suppose it could be, but contrary to the article, I feel it could make a relationship stronger and if fights arise because something the other found while on your profile, then the problem is not the sharing of the password…it’s the fact that someone wasn’t honest!