Overview
- Overall, 26% of people with relationship experience said they had looked through a partner’s phone without permission, and 10% of them did so more than once.
- Among 16- to 29-year-olds, nearly half reported having snooped on a partner’s smartphone.
- Curiosity and suspicion of cheating were the top motives for checking, each cited by 31% of respondents.
- Reactions after looking were mixed, with about a quarter feeling validated, about a quarter feeling relief, and many others citing disappointment, guilt or anger.
- Reports of blurred boundaries were common, with 16% saying their own phone was searched without consent, 8% suspecting it, and 20% having shared social-media passwords; Bitkom advises strong lock screens with fingerprint or face unlock and hiding message previews.