In Chad, as in many parts of the world, a growing number of couples are grappling with a modern dilemma: should partners exchange social media passwords as a gesture of love and trust?
For some, the answer is clear. Password sharing is seen as a way to demonstrate transparency and eliminate suspicion. Hawa, a 26-year-old student, explained: “I have my boyfriend’s password, he has mine.
It keeps us safe from suspicion. I know he’s not secretly texting anyone, and neither is he. It builds our trust.”
Others view the practice as a dangerous path that risks eroding the very trust it is meant to secure.
Mahamat, a taxi driver, recounted: “My wife searched my phone and found messages between me and a colleague. It wasn’t anything serious, but she started making a fuss. Since that day, I prefer to keep my codes to myself.”
The debate raises questions about privacy, independence, and the boundaries within intimate relationships. For some, refusing to share passwords is not about secrecy but about maintaining a personal space. Aminata, a market vendor, argued: “Love is not about surveillance. Everyone must keep a little of their own secret garden. Otherwise, the relationship becomes a prison.”
Others go further, linking the request itself to insecurity.
Idriss, an economics student, suggested: “If you ask for the password, it’s because you already have doubts. And if you have doubts, it means the relationship isn’t solid.”
Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok often act as both mirrors and traps for relationships.
Misinterpreted conversations, resurfacing old contacts, and unchecked jealousy can all ignite conflict. Fatimé, 26, recalled: “My ex always wanted to search my phone.
One day, he came across an old message that I had forgotten to delete. It ruined everything. Since then, I always say: each one has their own phone, each one has their own password.”
For some couples, sharing passwords offers reassurance. For others, it becomes the root of mistrust. The real issue, many argue, is not whether codes should be exchanged, but whether trust can exist without them.
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