Your password, we’re told, should be kept private. It’s a key that can open up doors to your bank account, your email, and of course, Facebook. What would compel someone to break this rule? Your undying love and trust for another? Sharing a Netflix account? Or stalking your current beau’s ex – the one with the new, nasty haircut?

Good friends share passwords all the time. Some might give their friends their password to see the new man they’re swooning over or to see pictures of that girl from high school who had a baby. Some of your lesser tech-savvy friends might give you their password to set up their Google Reader account or change their Twitter background.

When you’re ready to share your password with a boyfriend or girlfriend, it can be an honor – almost like giving them a digital key. It’s a sign that you trust no unwanted snooping will go on, but that you’re also comfortable enough to show that you clearly have nothing to hide. This can be a real turning point in a relationship. Sharing Facebook passwords with a lover can be a great way to check out their friends or exes. But remember: this is a big step. A lot of trust and commitment is involved, and you should be confident you’re ready to take this step – a breakup can mean a lot of damage to your social network.

What to do if you break up

You may want to change that password quick. Exes have been known to get a little crazy – doing some snooping to see why you really broke up with them. Is it that cute girl who’s been sending you Facebook messages? Do you have emails involving explicit sex acts done on the sly? An ex with enough passwords and too little self-control may end up updating your Facebook status with rude messages, deleting important emails or even stealing money from your bank account. Dealing with an ex who has complete access to all your personal information can even lead to identity theft or a large amount of Beanie Babies purchased with your eBay account. So why take the risk?

As bad as the outcome could be, sharing passwords is like sharing a front-door key. It’s a way to let someone know you care and that you trust them; that they shouldn’t be jealous or to worry. It’s inviting someone into a piece of your own little virtual world. Just be sure you have an exit strategy if things go sour, or you could end up without much of a social network at all.

Comment below: Have you ever regretted sharing your passwords?

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