Increasingly common phone act actually a relationship red flag, study reveals

Experts are warning that a worrying relationship “red flag” has become normalized after new data revealed it’s on the rise in Australia.Almost a quarter of Aussies think it’s reasonable to expect to have a partner’s device codes and more than one in 10 think it’s reasonable to expect to track a partner using location-sharing apps, new eSafety research conducted by the Social Research Centre found.“There are many practical and safe reasons why two people in an intimate relationship might consent to sharing their passcodes, tracking each other or sending frequent messages to check where the other person is or what they’re doing,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.“What’s concerning about these findings is the normalization of these expectations within any intimate relationship.”“In this age of ubiquitous tech, we need to be careful not to inadvertently erode a partner’s privacy, boundaries and agency simply because digital devices allow us to track, cross-check and recheck their every action, like and dislike.”Of the 2046 surveyed, just under 10 percent of respondents agreed that both having someone’s personal passcodes and tracking someone whenever they want using location-sharing apps were reasonable expectations from an intimate partner.Men were also found to be twice as likely as women to see tracking a partner as “reasonable” or a “sign of care.”“When there are several red flags, it could be that you or someone you know is a target of tech-based coercive control ,” Inman Grant added.“Tech-based coercive control isn’t a single act of abuse but a pattern of controlling behaviors.It’s often difficult to spot because the abuser will describe their abusive actions as acts of care or deep concern.

But like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, this is abuse dressed up as love.“While we need to conduct further research to understand what’s driving these attitudes and expectations, it’s clear more work needs ...