{"id":68854,"date":"2017-02-06T18:01:45","date_gmt":"2017-02-07T02:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=68854"},"modified":"2025-08-31T20:15:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T03:15:49","slug":"connected-relationships-valentines-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/connected-relationships-valentines-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Connected Relationships: A Love Affair with Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love is in the air, and in our technology as well. At least, that is what the survey says\u2014specifically, a survey of over 13,000 adults in relationships that use digital devices daily. We recently conducted this survey around today\u2019s \u201cconnected relationships,\u201d to better understand how online behavior affects real world relationships.<\/p>\n

The results proved that as much as we love each other, we\u2019re starting to fall even more in love with technology. And as we use our connected devices more and more each day, our relationships are impacted, both positively and negatively, by that use.<\/p>\n

On average, adults spend an equal amount of time at home online (38%) as they do interacting with others face-to-face. In fact, 40% of our survey respondents felt their significant other paid more attention to their own device when they were together one-on-one. You could even say that, for many, our devices have become the \u201cother (wo)man\u201d in the relationship.<\/p>\n

And the same goes for blossoming relationships as well, with approximately a third (33%) of those surveyed saying they\u2019ve had to compete with their date\u2019s device for attention on a first date.<\/p>\n

When it comes to setting parameters around device usage, the consensus is decidedly split, with 45% of respondents claiming they don\u2019t set rules about device usage when together, and another 45% reporting getting into an argument with a friend, significant other, or family member over being on a device in another\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n

Though devices have managed to cause some minor riffs between couples, that doesn\u2019t stop couples from sharing even when they shouldn\u2019t. Out of those surveyed, nearly 30% of couples share passwords to social media accounts, 28% share passwords to personal email accounts, and most shockingly, more than 20% share their work-specific devices and accounts with their significant other.<\/p>\n

Stay Safe While Online Dating<\/h2>\n

So, whether you\u2019re handing a password out to a loved one, or just using your device to stay connected to them, remember: it\u2019s always important to make sure your devices are secure. Here are a few tips for staying safe while staying in love:<\/p>\n